Simplify your cash-back experience with the American Express Blue Business Cash card.

American Express offers various benefits and promotions. Visit their website at [americanexpress.com](http://americanexpress.com) for more information.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is an excellent cash-back business card, particularly for new businesses, with a 0% APR period on new purchases and a straightforward rewards program that enables you to concentrate on managing your company.

CNBC Select evaluates the Blue Business Cash card, examining its rewards program, advantages, and alternatives to help you determine if it's the ideal card for your small business or side hustle.

American Express Blue Business Cash review

Welcome bonus

In the first three months, new Blue Business Cash cardholders can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases with the card.

Benefits and perks

The Blue Business Cash card offers two notable advantages: a 0% intro APR period and an Expanded Buying Power feature that allows you to exceed your credit limit in specific circumstances.

Eligible new cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, followed by a variable APR of 18.49%-26.49% (maximum of 29.99% APR; see rates and fees).

With the Expanded Buying Power feature on your Amex business card, you can spend more than your credit limit without incurring any fees, penalties, or interest, as long as you pay off the extra spending in full at the end of the billing cycle, along with the minimum payment due.

American Express offers purchase protection and extended warranty protection for eligible items. With these benefits, customers can extend their original manufacturer's warranty for up to one year and receive coverage for 90 days against accidental damage and theft (up to $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per calendar year). Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Rental cars come with theft and damage insurance for cardholders, but this coverage is waived if you choose to decline the rental company's insurance.

For warranties of five years or less, coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item, with a maximum of $10,000. However, this coverage does not exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.

Your Card Membership includes Purchase Protection, which automatically covers accidental damage, theft, or loss of Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply.

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. provides Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage, which is underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

How to earn and use cash back

Earning

The Blue Business Cash card offers generous and straightforward cash-back rates. You'll earn:

Eligible purchases receive 2% cashback up to $50,000 per calendar year, followed by 1% cashback.
1% back on all other purchases

Redeeming

Your Blue Business Cash rewards are automatically credited to your account as a statement credit, eliminating the need to decide how to use your cash back or worry about expiring rewards.

Rates and fees

The Blue Business Cash card has no annual fee, but late payments may incur a fee of up to $39, while returned payments are charged a $39 fee. Additionally, transactions made in a foreign currency are subject to a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.

*See rates and fees

Alternatives to the Amex Blue Business Cash

The Blue Business Cash and Blue Business® Plus credit cards from American Express are both excellent options for business owners, but they have different features and benefits.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and Blue Business Cash are nearly identical business cards, except for one significant difference: the Blue Business Cash is a cash-back card while the Blue Business Plus earns travel rewards.

This card earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which can be redeemed in various ways, including transferring them to over 20 hotel and airline loyalty programs. It earns 2X points on up to $50,000 per calendar year in eligible purchases, then 1X points on all other purchases.

The Blue Business Plus card has a more intricate rewards system, but it offers greater value if used effectively. By maximizing the 2X bonus category annually, you can earn 100,000 Amex points or $1,000 in statement credits, depending on the card you possess. With 100,000 Amex points, you can book travel worth thousands of dollars, including business class awards with partners such as Iberia, ANA, and Avianca.

Amex Blue Business Cash vs. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® offers a minimum of 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which is 0.5% less than the highest rate offered by the Blue Business Cash. However, unlike the Blue Business Cash, the Ink Business Unlimited has no cap on the 1.5% cash-back rate.

If your business spends more than $50,000 annually on credit card expenses, the Ink Business Unlimited card offers 1.5% cash back, while the Blue Business Cash card offers 1% cash back. If your business has $100,000 in annual expenses, both cards would earn $1,500 in cash back. However, if you anticipate spending more than $100,000, the Ink Business Unlimited card becomes more valuable due to its higher cash back rate and additional perks, such as 5% back on Lyft rides (through Mar. 31, 2025) and a large welcome bonus offer. Therefore, the Ink Business Unlimited card may be more suitable for growing businesses.

Is the Amex Blue Business Cash right for you?

The Blue Business Cash card is a top-notch business cash-back card with no annual fee (refer to rates and fees) and a superior return on the first $50,000 in annual spending. Additionally, it features an automatic redemption of rewards, allowing you to focus on your business without getting bogged down in a complex rewards program.

As your business grows and expenses rise, you may be able to earn more rewards with an uncapped bonus cash back business card. Additionally, travel-focused business owners can receive better value with a card that earns transferrable travel rewards.

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To learn about the rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, please visit this link.

For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus, click here.