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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best small-business cards out there, with an elevated bonus and top-notch benefits (and a premium annual fee to match). It's an excellent offer if you like earning Membership Rewards points and you can maximize the bonus spending categories and perks — but be sure to assess whether the annual fee is worth it for you before you commit. Amex is an Insider partner.
Amex Business Platinum Review: Is It the Best Card for You?
If you're a small-business owner looking for a premium card with valuable benefits and rewards that are easy to earn and redeem, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is an excellent choice.
It comes with a sky-high welcome bonus offer — you can earn The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. That's worth around The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Featured Reward Value in travel, based on Insider's points and miles valuations.
The card currently comes with a $595 annual fee and a The Business Platinum Card® from American Express APR on purchases.
That said, it could be well worth it if you can make the most of perks like up to $1,000 in annual statement credits on business purchases at Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers each calendar year**, up to $200 in airline incidental fee credits**, and airport lounge access.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Amex Business Platinum Card Rewards
How to Earn Rewards
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express earns Membership Rewards points, and its earning structure offers bonus points for large purchases and in categories that appeal to small businesses. You'll earn:
5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1.5x points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more
1.5x points on eligible purchases in the US at electronics goods retailers, software, and cloud service providers
1.5x points at eligible US shipping providers
1.5x points on eligible US purchases of construction materials and hardware supplies
1 point per dollar on everything else
The 1.5x category is capped at a total of $2 million in purchases combined each year — after that, you'll earn 1 point per dollar in these categories.
What Counts as a Bonus Category Purchase?
What counts as an eligible purchase in these bonus categories: electronics goods retailers, software, and cloud service providers?
Amex defines electronics retailers as those in the primary business of selling a range of electronic goods (like Dell Technologies or NewEgg), and software and cloud service providers as in the primary business of selling programs and data storage (such as Adobe and Salesforce).
However, some merchants that sell electronics, software, and cloud services along with other items will not qualify. These include:
Online marketplaces that provide a variety of products outside of electronic goods (like Amazon and eBay)
Superstores (such as Target and Walmart)
Purchases from wireless telephone and cellular service providers (like AT&T and Verizon)
Application purchases via aggregator platforms
Consulting and management services
Meanwhile, shipping providers include US courier, postal, and freight shipping services, so merchants like FedEx, UPS, and the United States Postal Service all count.
However, you won't earn bonus rewards for shipping costs attached to retail purchases or on moving services, local trucking, or trash removal.
When it comes to construction materials and hardware supplies, to earn bonus points in this category, you must make your purchase directly at US construction material or hardware supplier. These are retailers in the primary business of selling a range of items like raw materials (lumber, concrete, metals) and building supplies (hardware, flooring, paint, plumbing, AC/heating, electrical).
Example merchants that qualify include Builders FirstSource, Lowe's, Northern Tool, and Sherwin-Williams. Superstores like Walmart and Target or warehouse clubs like BJ's and Costco are not included.
How to Redeem Rewards
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express earns flexible American Express Membership Rewards points — and while the Membership Rewards program is usually associated with travel, there are plenty of other ways to redeem your points.
There's one The Business Platinum Card® from American Express benefit that can be very lucrative for award travelers. Cardholders receive a 35% points rebate when they redeem points for first- or business-class tickets, or for any fare with their selected airline through Amex Travel (up to 500,000 points back per calendar year). Normally, Amex points are worth 1 cent each toward airfare booked through the Amex portal, so this rebate effectively boosts their value to 1.54 cents apiece.
If you're staying close to home, you can still use Amex Membership Rewards points for lots of non-travel redemptions, including:
Statement credits to cover charges on your account (0.6 cents per point)
Food delivery with GrubHub and Seamless (0.7 cents per point)
New York City taxi fare (1 cent per point)
Charity donations (0.7 cents per point)
Gift cards (1 cent per point)
Merchandise (point value varies — usually around 0.5 cents per point)
Amex Business Platinum Benefits and Features
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is packed with valuable benefits that can help offset its annual fee — including statement credits, purchase protections, and travel perks that can make your journey more comfortable. Here are some of the card's major features:
Up to $400 in Dell Statement Credits Each Calendar Year
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express members are eligible for up to $400 in statement credits toward U.S. Dell purchases each calendar year once they enroll their card. This is divided into two $200 credits: up to $200 between January and June, and up to $200 between July and December.
Up to $200 in Annual Airline Incidental Fee Credits
Like the personal Platinum Card, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with up to $200 in airline incidental fee credits** each calendar year on an airline you choose. You can use the airline fee credit toward expenses like checked bag fees, seat selection, pet fees, lounge day passes, and inflight food and drink, but airfare is excluded.
Up to $120 Per Year in Wireless Credits
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders can receive up to $10 per month in statement credits toward purchases made from any US wireless telephone provider (up to $120 per calendar year).
Using the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express to pay your cell phone bill is already a smart move, because it's one of the Amex cards that offer cell phone protection when you use it to pay your monthly bill.
Up to $360 Per Year in Indeed Credits
If your small business spends money on finding new employees, a new Indeed credit on the The Business Platinum Card® from American Expresscan save you up to $360 per year**.
Cardholders can receive up to $90 per quarter in statement credits toward all Indeed hiring and recruiting products and services.
Up to $150 Per Year in Adobe Credits
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $150 per calendar year** in statement credits toward select Adobe purchases, including Adobe Creative Cloud and Acrobat Pro DC.
$189 CLEAR® Credit
CLEAR® is an expedited security screening program that can save you time waiting in line at select US airports and stadiums. A CLEAR® Plus membership normally costs $189 per year ($119 for members of the United Airlines or Delta frequent flyer programs, and further discounts are available for elite status members), but if you pay with your The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you'll receive a statement credit back toward the cost**.
The downside is that CLEAR® screening is only in select locations, so if the airports you travel through don't participate, this benefit won't be of much use to you. However, the program is also available at a handful of stadiums, so if you're a sports fan who likes to attend live games, this could be a good deal.
Airport Lounge Access
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, so when you're traveling you'll have a comfortable place to relax and unwind, away from the hustle and bustle of the terminal. The airport lounges you can visit include:
Amex Centurion lounges: Located at more than a dozen airports in the US and with numerous international locations including Hong Kong and London, these lounges offer complimentary cocktails, quality food created by award-winning chefs, and an upscale vibe.
Delta Sky Club lounges: If you're flying with Delta that day, you can also access over 30 Delta Sky Club locations, and enjoy snacks, complimentary soft and alcoholic drinks, premium Wi-Fi, and a quieter place to work and relax.
International American Express lounges (with locations in countries like Argentina, Australia, and Mexico)
Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner, with locations in the US and UK
Priority Pass Select**: This is a network of more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world. When you activate the complimentary membership you'll receive with the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you and two guests can access any lounge location (subject to capacity limits). At a minimum, lounges typically offer free snacks, drinks, newspapers and magazines, and Wi-Fi.
Hotel Elite Status With Hilton and Marriott
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold elite status. Once you enroll, you'll receive perks like upgrades, late checkout, and in Hilton's case, free breakfast (currently offered as a food and beverage credit). If you stay with either chain frequently, it's easy to get a ton of value from the status boost.
Up to $100 toward the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are massive time-savers for travelers. Once approved, members can use faster airport security lanes, and you won't have to remove shoes and light coats or remove your laptop from your bag. With Global Entry, you can use a special lane when you return to the US from overseas for faster immigration and customs clearance.
TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a five-year membership, and Global Entry charges $100. American Express will provide a credit for those fees every four years (four and a half years for TSA PreCheck).
Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express members have access to the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program through Amex Travel. These luxury properties offer perks including room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout, free Wi-Fi, and a unique amenity at each hotel, like a property credit to use at spas or restaurants.
Cardholders can also book upscale properties through The Hotel Collection and receive benefits that include property credits and room upgrades.
Cell Phone Protection
Amex added cell phone protection to a number of premium cards, including the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
When you use the card to pay your wireless bill, you're covered for the cost of repair or replacement if your phone is damaged or stolen, up to $800 per claim and up to two claims per 12-month period. There's a $50 deductible, and you must file your claim within 90 days of the incident.
Car Rental Insurance
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers secondary rental car insurance when you use the card to pay for your rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver. Coverage is for theft or damage only (not liability) and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
If you paid for a covered trip with the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and it's canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you could be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per consecutive 12-month period.
Baggage Insurance
When you pay for a covered trip with your The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $2,000 per person for checked bags and $3,000 per person for carry-on luggage.
There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.
Trip Delay Insurance
You can get reimbursed up to $500 for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you've paid for a covered trip with your The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and it's delayed by six hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period.
Return Protection
If you purchased an eligible item with the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the merchant won't accept your return, you're may get a refund of the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling), up to $300 per item and a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.
Purchase Protection
When you pay for an eligible item with the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can be covered for loss or damage up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to a maximum of $10,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year.
Extended Warranty
Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their The Business Platinum Card® from American Express to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturer's warranties of five years or less.
Premium Global Assist Hotline
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express comes with an underrated perk that can be a lifesaver if you have an emergency while you're away from home. Cardholders get access to Amex's Premium Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services.
The service itself is complimentary, but you may be responsible for any third-party costs. One big difference from the regular (versus premium) Global Assist Hotline is emergency medical evacuation coverage — Amex may provide emergency medical transportation assistance at no cost if it's approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline.
Premium Private Jet access
Cardholders are eligible for up to 40% off a Premium Private Jet Program membership with Wheels Up, a private jet charter company. You can also get up to $2,000 in initial-year flight credits toward private charters.
Exclusive Global Dining Access by Resy
If you're a foodie and enjoy dining at high-end establishments, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers exclusive reservations at some of the world's most coveted restaurants. Amex says Resy will also offer cardholders access to premium events and other perks.
Amex Offers
Like other American Express cards, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express includes targeted discounts and bonus rewards at participating merchants through Amex Offers**. Many of these offers are geared toward small-business spending, and can save you a ton of cash when you activate an offer make a qualifying purchase.
American Express Business Platinum Fees and Costs
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a hefty $595 annual fee, so you'll want to make sure you can take advantage of its money-saving benefits before you apply.
You can effectively offset the yearly cost just by maximizing the Dell, airline incidental fee, and wireless credits (up to $720 total combined). Beyond that, other credits and perks like airport lounge access and hotel elite status can be worth hundreds if you make use of them.
You won't pay foreign transaction fees with the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, which can translate into big savings if your business frequently makes international purchases or if you travel overseas. Like most cards, there are fees for late and returned payments.
With The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you're required to pay your balance in full each month. However, the card offers a Pay Over Time option which allows you to carry a balance, with interest, on eligible purchases.
How the Amex Business Platinum Compares
The Amex Business Platinum vs. the Amex Business Gold
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express isn't the only premium business card from Amex; there's also the American Express® Business Gold Card - Product Name Only, with a lower American Express® Business Gold Card - Annual Fee annual fee.
The American Express® Business Gold Card - Product Name Only has a lower welcome bonus of American Express® Business Gold Card - Intro Bonus. It also earns bonus rewards differently: You'll get 4x points on the two categories you spend the most on (on up to $150,000 in spending per year, then 1x) from the following list: airfare purchased directly from airlines, US gas stations, US restaurants, US shipping providers, US computer hardware, software, and cloud systems from select technology providers, and US purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio).
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a much longer benefits list, too; complimentary hotel elite status, airport lounge access, and the various annual statement credits aren't available on the American Express® Business Gold Card - Product Name Only.
Amex Business Platinum Card vs. the Ink Business Preferred Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card - Product Name Only from Chase is one of our favorite business credit cards, and it could be a good alternative if you don't want to pay the steep annual fee on the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card - Product Name Only has an annual fee of Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card - Annual Fee, and while it doesn't offer as many premium benefits, it can earn you a significant amount of points on business purchases.
With the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card - Product Name Only, you'll earn 3x points on shipping purchases, advertising purchases on social media sites and search engines, internet, cable, and phone services, and travel, on the first $150,000 in combined purchases spent each account anniversary year in these categories (then 1x). The card also comes with a welcome bonus of Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card - Intro Bonus. Read our Ink Business Preferred Card review.
Amex Platinum Business Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Business Platinum worth it?
The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only is very much worth it if you can maximize its benefits and points earning. Although the annual fee is high, it's offset by valuable perks like statement credits, airport lounge access, and top-notch travel and purchase protection. However, if you're not able to take advantage of the card's benefits, or don't want to shell out a high annual fee upfront, this is probably not the card for you.
Who is eligible for the American Express Business Platinum card?
First off, you'll need to have some sort of business to qualify for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only. It doesn't have to be a large corporation or full-time venture — side gigs like driving for Uber, delivering for Instacart, or freelancing can all count.
You'll also want to make sure your credit score is in the good to excellent range before you apply, as that will increase your chances of approval. That means a FICO score of 670 or higher.
In addition, Amex has strict rules about earning a welcome bonus on a card more than once. If you have or previously had the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only, you won't qualify to earn the bonus. However, if you have or have had the personal The Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only or other flavors of Platinum card, you're still eligible to earn the bonus on the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only.
Does the Amex Business Platinum get Uber credits?
No, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only doesn't come with Uber Cash credits like the The Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only and American Express® Gold Card - Editorial Name Only. It does offer business-centric credits toward merchants like Dell, Adobe, Indeed, and U.S. wireless providers.
Is the Amex Business Platinum a charge card?
Like a charge card, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only doesn't have a pre-set spending limit, but you're required to pay your balance in full each month unless you activate the Pay Over Time feature. This allows you to carry a balance on eligible charges with interest, which conventional charge cards don't do.
Is the Amex Business Platinum metal?
Yes, the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only is a metal card.
Can I switch from the Amex Platinum to the Amex Business Platinum?
No, you can't switch (called a product change) from the The Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only to the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Editorial Name Only or vice versa. That's because one is a personal card and the other is a small-business card, and each have different qualification requirements.
