American Express Business Gold Card review: No fuss with high earning potential
American Express® Business Gold Card overview
The American Express® Business Gold Card is an excellent choice for business owners looking to maximize their earnings from a single card, with 4-point-per-dollar bonus categories that automatically reflect your highest spending areas each month (capped at $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year). However, the biggest downside is its relatively high annual fee. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The American Express® Business Gold Card is the most recently refreshed card in Amex's portfolio, sporting new business-friendly bonus categories and valuable benefits.
But, as we've come to expect, these changes also come with an annual fee increase: the card's current $295 annual fee will increase to $375 effective Feb. 1, 2024. You'll pay the lower annual fee if you apply before that date. (see rates and fees)
If you have a credit score of at least 670 and are a small-business owner, you're likely wondering whether the Amex Business Gold fits your needs. Below, we'll explain the card's benefits and drawbacks to help you decide.
Amex Business Gold Card welcome offer
New applicants for the Amex Business Gold can earn 70,000 bonus points after they spend $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership. TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, making this bonus worth a solid $1,400.
It's worth noting that if you've ever received a welcome offer for this card, you likely won't be eligible for this offer. However, you can downgrade to this card from another Amex business card, such as The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Related: The best time to apply for these Amex cards based on offer history
Amex Business Gold benefits
You won't get luxury benefits like airport lounge access with this card, but the Amex Business Gold does come with some valuable perks.
Statement credits
The most significant Amex Business Gold benefit is the up to $395 in annual statement credits it offers, featuring:
- Up to $240 back annually ($20 back per month) for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub and office supply stores
- Up to $155 back annually for a monthly Walmart+ membership
If you're able to maximize these credits, you'll more than make up the card's annual fee from this benefit alone.
Enrollment is required.
Business benefits
The Amex Business Gold also offers several great tools to help you manage your business expenses. You can add up to 99 employee cards at no additional cost (see rates and fees) and earn points on their purchases. You can also easily designate an employee as an account manager, allowing someone other than the primary account holder to review statements, add new employees and make payments.
It also gives you year-end summaries, auto-expense categorization in Intuit QuickBooks, complimentary Vendor Pay by Bill.com membership for the first user and discounted membership for the second user, no preset spending limit and Pay Over Time option.
Protections
Cardholders enjoy several valuable travel and shopping protections with the Amex Business Gold:
- Travel protections: Cardmembers get several travel protections, including baggage insurance,* trip delay insurance** and rental car insurance***
- Cellphone protection: Cardmembers can be reimbursed for the cost to repair or replace their stolen or damaged cellphone up to $800 per claim for up to two approved claims per year (with a $50 deductible for each claim)**
- Extended warranty: Eligible warranties of five years or less can be extended by one year*
- Purchase protection: Eligible purchases are covered for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date if it is stolen or damaged (limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per account each calendar year)*
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Access
Cardholders also get access to The Hotel Collection, which includes a $100 on-property credit for stays of two nights or more as well as valuable Amex Offers.
Again, you can find more travel and business benefits on other cards, but the statement credits, business benefits and protections you'll get with the Amex Business Gold make it a perfect fit for many businesses.
And if you like aesthetics, you can opt for a rose gold version of the metal card instead of the standard gold color.
Related: Is the Amex Business Gold worth the annual fee?
Earning points on the Amex Business Gold
One of the unique features of the Amex Business Gold is that your bonus categories can shift monthly to match your spending patterns. You'll automatically earn 4 points per dollar in your top two spending categories each month, meaning you don't have to pick a category and commit to it.
If your spending habits fluctuate month to month, Amex will help you earn the most bonus points possible. The eligible categories are:
- Transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses and subways
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
Your 4-point-per-dollar rate, which equates to an 8% return based on TPG's valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, is capped at $150,000 a calendar year across all bonus categories.
Beyond these bonus categories, you'll earn 3 points per dollar on flights, prepaid hotels and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked through Amex Travel or AmexTravel.com as well as 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
If you max out the $150,000 in spending a year, you'll walk away with 600,000 Membership Rewards points, which TPG values at $12,000. This massive earning potential alone might be enough to encourage businesses to opt for this card.
Related: Maximize your earning with the Amex Business Gold
Redeeming points on the Amex Business Gold
The Amex Business Gold card earns Membership Rewards points, which you can transfer to any of Amex's 21 airline and hotel partners.
You can also redeem your points by booking travel through Amex Travel, cash them in for a statement credit or gift card, or use them to pay for your purchases directly at Amazon or in the Membership Rewards online shopping mall. However, these options will yield a value of 0.5 to 1 cent per point, so we recommend sticking with transferring your points to get maximum value from them.
Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value
Transferring points on the Amex Business Gold
Again, the most valuable redemption option for the points you earn on your Amex Business Gold is to transfer them to Amex's 21 hotel and airline partners, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Iberia Plus and Marriott Bonvoy.
TPG senior writer Ben Smithson loves transferring his Amex points to Air Canada's Aeroplan program for the huge range of airline redemption partners at sensible fixed award chart rates. He also likes transferring to British Airways Executive Club to book short-haul flights from the United Kingdom to Europe on British Airways for under 5,000 points each way.
Amex regularly offers transfer bonuses, allowing you to get even more value from your points. Regardless of your travel preferences and goals, you're sure to find some that work for you in Amex's extensive list of partners.
Related: The best ways to use Membership Rewards points
Which cards compete with the Amex Business Gold?
If you want more statement credits or have difficulty justifying the Amex Business Gold's annual fee, you may get more value from one of these cards:
- If you want more statement credits: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with over $1,400 in statement credits each year for Dell, Indeed, Adobe and wireless phone service purchases (see rates and fees). For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Business Platinum. Enrollment is required.
- If you want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards: The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on shipping, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising with social media sites and search engines — as well as on travel purchases (on the first $150,000 total spent each year). It also comes with a much lower $95 annual fee. For more details, check out our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.
- If you want to earn Membership Rewards with no annual fee: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns 2 Membership Rewards points on all eligible business purchases (up to $50,000 spent per calendar year) and has no annual fee (see rates and fees). For more details, check out our full review of the Blue Business Plus.
For additional options, see our list of best business credit cards and best Amex credit cards.
Related: Amex Business Gold vs. Amex Business Platinum
Bottom line
If you can maximize the bonus-earning categories and the statement credits it offers, the Amex Business Gold is an excellent option for your small business. The bonus categories that adjust to your spending and additional business benefits make this a compelling card for many business owners. Still, if you're looking for more business benefits or need to keep your annual fee costs low, you may find that this card doesn't, in fact, win the gold medal for your wallet.
Apply here: Amex Business Gold with a 70,000-point welcome offer
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Plus, please click here.