Is the American Express Blue Business Cash worth it?

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a no-annual-fee business credit card and offers 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per year (and 1% back thereafter). It also comes with a few valuable travel and shopping benefits.

The card can be an excellent choice for a business owner who wants a cash back card with a simple rewards system. That said, it’s not a perfect option for everyone.

Here’s how to determine whether the American Express Blue Business Cash is worth it for you.

Should you get the American Express Blue Business Cash card?

If you’re a small business owner on a budget and you want a credit card with a straightforward rewards system, the American Express Blue Business Cash may be worth it for you.

The card is very low maintenance. You won’t have to worry about annual fees, bonus or rotating categories or even cash back redemption. Your cash back automatically appears as a monthly statement credit.

Unlike many other Amex cards, the Blue Business Cash has a spending limit, but also offers the Expanded Buying Power feature, which allows you to go over the limit without triggering fees or penalties. This adds to the card’s convenience, especially if you’re planning to add employees as authorized users.

You can add up to 99 users free of charge and set up spending limits and purchase alerts. If multiple employees use the card and bring the card over the limit, the Expanded Buying Power will allow them to avoid declined transactions and over-the-limit fees.

The American Express Blue Business Cash also offers a 0% intro APR on new purchases for the first 12 months (14.74% to 22.74% variable APR thereafter), which makes this card a solid choice for business owners looking to finance upfront expenses while still earning rewards.

Who should skip the American Express Blue Business Cash card?

While the American Express Blue Business Cash can be an excellent deal, some business owners may benefit more from a different business credit card.

For example, if you’re anticipating spending much more than $50,000 per year on your card, it may make more sense for you to go with one that offers unlimited rewards.

If that’s the case, look into cards like the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, which offers unlimited 2% back on all purchases. While it charges a $150 annual fee, you’ll still get more value from it than you would from the Amex Blue Business Cash if you spend more than $65,000 per year on your card.

Additionally, if your business has recurring expenses in certain categories, you may want to find a card that earns extra rewards in these categories.

For instance, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services, as well as 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants. The card charges no annual fee.

Finally, the Amex Blue Business Cash may not be the best choice if you frequently travel internationally. Although it comes with a few travel perks, such as car rental collision and damage waiver and Global Assist hotline, it earns no travel rewards and charges a 2.7% foreign transaction fee. Not to mention, Amex may not be widely accepted in some foreign countries.

Bottom line

The American Express Blue Business Cash makes business credit card rewards easy. It earns a simple flat-rate cash back on all purchases and even does all the redemption work for the cardholder. Plus, it’s a good card for financing upfront costs, thanks to the intro APR offer. There’s also no annual fee to worry about.

While the card’s benefits may be perfect for some business owners, others may want to look into different options. For example, entrepreneurs with large amounts of business spend or regular expenses in certain categories may earn more with a different business credit card. The Amex Blue Business Cash is also not the best choice for those who regularly travel internationally.

Before you decide whether to apply for the Amex Blue Business Cash, make sure you’ve considered all the card options available to you. Head over to CardMatch and compare the card offers available to you. Without impact to your credit, the service tailors offers to your credit profile so that you only see the cards for which you’re likely to qualify.