American Express Blue Business Cash Card Review
This article was last updated Jul 19, 2019. Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
If you are a small business owner who wants to earn cash back on every purchase without paying an annual fee, American Express has a solution for you.
The latest addition to American Express’s small business card portfolio — the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card — lets cardholders earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%, and charges no annual fee. Additionally, the card offers Expanded Buying Power, which enables cardholders to spend beyond their credit limit, without penalty, and get rewarded on those purchases.
Note, the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card is replacing the SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card from American Express — which is no longer accepting applications as of July 18, 2019.
In this review, we’ll breakdown the pros and cons of the new American Express® Blue Business Cash Card, as well as show how it compares with the The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.
Where the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card stands out
Simple rewards structure. The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card is ideal for cardholders who want a simple rewards structure. Since you earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%, there’s no need to keep up with bonus spend categories. If you max out the spending cap by making $50,000 in purchases in a year, you will earn $1,000 cash back.
Expanded Buying Power. American Express helps business owners pursue growth opportunities, deal with unexpected costs and pay for larger purchases with Expanded Buying Power. The feature lets you buy above your credit limit — with no overlimit fees — and earn cash back on those purchases.
Keep in mind that, at the end of the billing cycle, the portion above your credit limit will be due in full.
Annual fee. Unlike business cards that can charge upwards of $595 per year, the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card has no annual fee — allowing you to enjoy all the benefits that come with the card without a big financial commitment.
Intro APR on purchases. The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card offers an intro APR on purchases of 0% for 12 months, followed by an APR of 14.74% - 20.74% Variable. Although we recommend paying off your bill in full each month, the introductory offer provides a great opportunity to pay off large expenses over a long period of time without incurring interest charges.
Intro APR on balance transfers. If you’re planning to transfer a large balance from a different credit card, you’re in luck. The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card comes with an intro APR on balance transfers of 0% for 12 months, then 14.74% - 20.74% Variable.
Additional American Express® Blue Business Cash Card benefits
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- 24/7 Global Assist Hotline
- Employee cards at no additional charge
- Expense management tools, including American Express® Business App and Connect to QuickBooks
- Extended warranty
- Purchase protection
- Dispute resolution
- Amex Offers
Where the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card falls short
Cap on bonus earning. The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card only allows cardholders to earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. If your company charges more than $4,200 each month on business expenses, you’ll be better off with a card that offers bonus cash back without a spending cap.
No welcome bonus. Although the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card offers a generous rewards rate, the card does not come with an introductory bonus — which may hinder your ability to earn a large influx of cash back in a short period of time.
Compare it with The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
If you prefer earning points rather than cash back, you may want to consider The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express . The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is virtually identical to the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card, except it offers 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
See how the cards compare side by side in the table below.
| American Express® Blue Business Cash Card | The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | |
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $0 |
| Intro APR on purchases | 0% for 12 months | 0% for 12 Months |
| Intro APR on balance transfers | 0% for 12 months | 0% for 12 Months |
| Regular purchase APR | 14.74% - 20.74% Variable | 14.74% - 20.74% Variable |
| Rewards | Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% | 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. |
| Introductory bonus | N/A | N/A |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. | 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. |
As you can see, the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express share the same annual fees, intro APRs, regular APRs and foreign transaction fees, and neither card offers a welcome bonus. Besides their names, where they differ the most is that one offers cash back rewards, while the other offers points.
If you travel frequently, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express may be the better choice. Along with redeeming points for gift cards, shopping, travel, entertainment, merchandise and charity, the card lets you transfer points, often at a 1:1 rate, to a number of airlines and hotels, including Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Choice Privileges, Marriott Bonvoy™ and more.
With American Express® Blue Business Cash Card, your cash back will automatically be credited to your account as a statement credit.
The bottom line
Overall, the ability to earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% — without paying an annual fee — with the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card is a generous offer.
However, if you spend more than $50,000 per year on business expenses, you’ll be better off with a card that offers unlimited cash back on every purchase, like the Discover it® Business Card. Along with a $0 annual fee, the Discover it® Business Card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on every dollar spent on all purchases. Plus, Discover will match all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first year of card membership, automatically.
