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Based on our review criteria, the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card scored 3.6 out of five. The company scored best in the security and user experience categories because it protects customer data and makes it easy to obtain, use, and manage the card.
The company received mediocre scores in the other categories because each category had a mix of positive and negative elements. For instance, we like the fact that the card doesn't charge an annual fee, but there is a foreign transaction fee if you use the account internationally.
The following sections help explain the scores we gave in each review category.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card charges the following rates and fees:
Purchase APR: 17.49%-27.49%
Penalty APR: 29.99%
Balance Transfer Fee: the greater of $5 or 3% of the transferred amount
Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars
Late or Returned Payment Fee: $39
If you plan to use this card to receive a balance transfer, you must initiate the transaction within 60 days of account opening.
If you miss a payment due date, the card issuer may impose the penalty APR for 12 or more consecutive billing cycles. Your account can revert to the purchase APR if you make timely payments during the penalty period.
If you spend $3,000 or more on eligible purchases within three months of opening your account, you'll receive a $250 statement credit as a sign-up bonus. You can earn two percent cash back on all eligible purchases up to an annual spending cap of $50,000. Once you reach that threshold, you'll get one percent cash back on eligible purchases. You'll receive your cashback via automatic statement credits.
As a Blue Business Cash™ cardholder, you have access to these travel-related perks:
*Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Get up to $50,000 in coverage if you decline the rental company's collision damage waiver and use your card to book the reservation.
*Global Assist® Hotline: Get 24/7 assistance if you experience an emergency situation while more than 100 miles from home.
*Disclaimer: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Your American Express® account also offers other benefits, including:
Expanded Buying Power: Go over your credit limit as needed. (Criteria for eligibility and additional spending limit amount such as payment history, account usage, and creditworthiness apply.)
Bill.com Subscription: Get a free Basic plan to pay your company's vendors when you enroll your card.
QuickBooks Connection: Sync your card with QuickBooks and watch transactions flow into the software daily.
*Purchase Protection: Get up to $1,000 per covered purchase (up to $50,000 per account per calendar year) if your item is accidentally damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase.
*Extended Warranty: Get up to an additional year of warranty protection (if the original warranty is five years or less).
*Disclaimer: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
American Express® takes safeguarding your personal and financial data seriously. Here are some ways the card issuer keeps your information secure:
Monitors your account for suspicious activity and sends alerts when it's detected
Makes it easy to report potential fraud by phone or online
Uses SafeKey to verify your identity when you shop online (you may have to enter a code, tap an app notification, or scan your face or finger)
Plus, your account information isn't stored on your device when you add your American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card to your digital wallet.
Researching and comparing credit cards on the American Express® website is easy. You can find details about each card's rewards, benefits, and fees.
However, the card issuer doesn't list eligibility criteria online, so knowing if you'll qualify can be difficult. We called the company, and the representative we spoke with couldn't provide this information either.
It's fast and easy to apply for the card online. You can also apply by calling 1-888-781-6736. We called this line, and a friendly representative picked up within one minute. They were happy to answer our questions and process our application over the phone.
Your personal credit score won't be affected unless you're approved for and accept the card. Your business credit score, on the other hand, may be impacted when you apply.
You can manage your account using the American Express® mobile app, available for both Android and iOS devices. With the app, you can:
See account details, like your balance, available credit, and payment due date.
Make a payment.
Track rewards.
Find special offers.
Freeze your card or request a replacement.
Many cardholders like the app, with Android device users giving it 3.9 out of five stars and Apple device users giving it 4.9 out of five stars. However, some users report that a recent app update worsened their experience.
American Express® representatives are available to help cardholders 24/7 through these channels:
Phone – 1-800-492-3344
Online account
Mobile app
You must log into your mobile app or online account to contact the customer service department. Since I'm not a cardholder, I couldn't test these methods.
Kat Tretina, writer and vintage jewelry seller, has been a Blue Business Cash™ cardholder for seven months. She said the card "stood out to me because of its simple rewards structure. I could earn 2% cash back on every purchase (up to $50,000 per year) without having to worry about rotating categories or tiered rewards. And it had a simple introductory offer that let me earn a cash bonus for a relatively low spending threshold."
Tretina mainly had positive things to say about the card. However, she offered this word of caution: "Although American Express® is widely accepted, there are some limitations. For example, my side hustle involves selling on platforms like Etsy and eBay. In 2024, eBay stopped accepting American Express® payments, so I have to use a workaround with a third-party payment app to use my [card] on that site," she explained.
We also checked Reddit to see what other cardholders had to say. Many of them praised the introductory APR period and lack of annual fees. However, others said they'd rather get their cash back deposited into their bank account than receive a statement credit.
The card issuer doesn't have the best reputation online. Here are three issues we found:
1.4 out of 5 stars across 4,600 reviews on the company rating website, Trustpilot
No accreditation, an F rating, and 1.1 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website
A court order to pay $108.7 million in civil penalties for alleged deceptive marketing practices (as of January 16, 2025)
Please note: As of this writing, we have contacted the company's public relations department regarding these issues and are awaiting their comments.
We do a deep dive into each card before we write our review. As we research each account, we consider factors such as:
Rates and Fees: Does the card come with an introductory APR? Will you have to pay a high annual fee or foreign transaction fee?
Features and Benefits: Can you earn valuable rewards for using your card? What benefits do you get from being a cardholder?
Security: Does the company take protecting your data seriously? How easy is it to report potential fraud?
User Experience: How easy is it to get and use your card? Is the card issuer's mobile app helpful?
Customer Service: Can you get help 24/7 or assistance through multiple channels? Does the company have a positive reputation?
We give the card a one to five rating in each of the above categories, with one being the worst and five being the best. We average the five ratings to arrive at the Editor's Score.
Tretina said, "This card is a good option for business owners who want a simple, straightforward card for their routine expenses, like shipping, supplies, or inventory because it offers a flat rewards rate. For business owners looking for premium or deluxe benefits or who travel often for work, it may not be the best fit since it offers limited perks in those areas. Also, business owners who spend substantial amounts of money- over $50,000 per year- could likely earn a higher rewards rate with another card."
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card does charge a foreign transaction fee. You'll pay 2.7% of the transaction amount when using your card abroad.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a cashback credit card that offers 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (up to $50,000 in annual spending).
American Express® doesn't disclose the eligibility criteria for its credit cards. However, you have the best chance of getting approved for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card if you have excellent credit and sufficient business income to pay your monthly bill.
