Amex Business Gold Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
If you can qualify for a business card, you’ll want to add the American Express Business Gold at some point. Because American Express points are more expensive to hold, that timing should match a specific intended use. Since American Express uses a “once per lifetime” policy for sign-up bonuses, it’s best to wait for the right special offer. You can offset the $20/month credit on FedEx, Grubhub, or office supply stores and the $12.95/month Walmart+ membership credit against the $375 annual fee, but only if you already plan to spend that money. Otherwise, it’s tough to justify keeping the card long term.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The general sign-up bonus offer of 70,000 (current special 100,000) points after spending $15,000 in the first three months is okay, but there have been public offers as high as 100,000 points for the same spending requirement. You may want to hold out for an elevated offer to maximize your “once per lifetime” bonus—especially if there are other cards on your list you can still qualify for. Once you get the American Express Business Gold, its sign-up bonus alone can be worthwhile if you can meet the spending requirement naturally.
Whether you keep it beyond the first year depends on whether you already use the available credits. If so, those benefits can wipe out the $375 annual fee. Another major perk is 4x points in your top two eligible spending categories each month, on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories (there are six eligible categories). Those 4x points add to your total while you’re meeting your welcome bonus. However, once you meet the spending requirement for the sign-up bonus, you may move on to the next card and its sign-up bonus, making the 4x structure less valuable.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Some reasons this card might not be right for you include:
- You can’t organically spend $15,000 in the first three months to receive the sign-up bonus.
- You want to wait for an elevated sign-up bonus because of American Express’s once per lifetime rule.
- You won’t use the statement credits for FedEx, Grubhub, office supply stores, or Walmart+ to offset the annual fee after the first year.
What to Know About Amex Member Rewards
Amex points are great in theory. We just find them harder to collect and more expensive to hold than Chase points.
- If you’re in the points game long enough, you’ll dabble in both main systems (Chase & Amex).
- Amex has a one card bonus per lifetime rule, so ultimately, there will be more of a limit to how many you can collect via sign-up bonuses.
- You’ll need to keep a “fee” card to hold your points.
- Delta and Hilton are solid transfer values and having Amex points gives you top-off flexibility if you are invested in either of those systems.
- We do find Amex travel a higher quality of service over the Chase travel portal.
How The Amex Business Gold Credit Card Fits In The Amex Member Rewards Ecosystem
The American Express Business Platinum offers a slightly higher sign-up bonus (50,000 (current special 150,000) points) and more perks, but it carries a $695 annual fee. Public offers for the Business Platinum have gone as high as 150,000 points, so keep that in mind. Meanwhile, the Green Business card isn’t worth mentioning beyond advising you not to get it—the low sign-up bonus and lack of benefits don’t justify its annual fee.
On the personal side, the American Express Platinum is comparable to the Business Platinum. It has the same high fee ($695) and a similar sign-up bonus (typically 175,000 points), with somewhat different benefits. The personal Gold card is also worth a look, but timing is crucial.
If you plan to collect multiple American Express personal cards, remember that if you get the Platinum first, you won’t be eligible for the sign-up bonus on the Green or Gold later. To get all three, apply in the order of Green, then Gold, then Platinum. This specific rule does not currently apply to American Express business cards. Therefore, if you start with the Business Platinum to take advantage of a great offer, you can still get the sign-up bonus on the Business Gold later (assuming the rule remains unchanged).
My Experience, No Filter
Neither my wife nor I could get approved for new Chase business cards, and we had already applied for most other recommended cards that weren’t co-branded airline or hotel cards. I received a targeted offer for the American Express Business Gold card with a sign-up bonus of 175,000 miles after spending $15,000 in the first three months. That amount was high for us, but we had a spring break trip and a large purchase coming up, so it worked out.
We’ve enjoyed the Walmart+ membership for free grocery delivery, which we use at least once per week. We haven’t maximized the $20 monthly credit because we rarely spend much at office supply stores or on DoorDash. We haven’t decided yet if we’ll keep the card after the first year, but the large sign-up bonus made it worthwhile for us initially.
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100,000 | $15,000 | 1.6 ¢ | $2 | $375 |
$1467
|
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Airline partner transfers | Unique 4X spend categories | No CR , No 5/24 , Amex 1/10 , Amex Popup Jail |
Award System
Offer Prior To Current Speical
$15,000 spend ended Aug 2024
Spend Categories
3X points
4.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
1X points
1.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
4X points
6.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
4X points
6.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
3X points
4.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
4X points
6.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
4X points
6.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
4X points
6.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Using this card gives you $50,000 secondary coverage for damage or theft of a rental vehicle.
Travel accident insurance up to $100,000; trip delay protection up to $500 per ticket; lost luggage protection up to $500 per trip for all insured persons combined; baggage delay insurance up to $500
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
A complimentary 24-hour dispatch hotline that can send a tow operator or locksmith to assist in an emergency situation. Cardholder will be charged for any services or goods provided.
Up to $240 in statement credits per year (up to $20 a month) for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub and office supply stores (Enrollment required) and monthly Walmart+ membership credit of up to a $12.95
Amex Hotel Collection bookings receive $100 in hotel credits to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities -- plus room upgrades upon arrival when available.
Your purchases are covered up to 120 days (90 days for New York residents); up to $1,000 per item and $50,000 per year.
Get up to 1 additional year on the original manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less. Up to $10,000 is covered per purchase.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner No
Transfer To Friends No
Travel Partner Transfers
Amex Member Rewards Outside Point System
Transfers Out To
1:1.6 80% value retained
1:1 88% value retained
1:1 88% value retained
1:1 81% value retained
1:1 69% value retained
1:1 63% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
1:1 81% value retained
1:2 63% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
2.5:2 65% value retained
1:1 44% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
1:1 81% value retained
1:1 88% value retained
Amex Business Gold Application Rules
This business card will not show on your personal credit report, so it won't count against your 5/24 status
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
Amex allows only 1 bonus per specific card per lifetime (yours or that version of the card)
After you apply, Amex may show a pop-up saying you're ineligible for the welcome bonus
Ranking of Cards Offering Amex Member Rewards
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database: