Who should and shouldn’t get the American Express Business Gold

The American Express® Business Gold Card is right in the middle of American Express’ business credit card offerings – It’s not the most premium credit card on Amex’s list, but it isn’t an entry-level credit card, either.

If you want a card that rewards advertising spend, the Amex Business Gold is a great option. If you want a card that comes with high-end travel perks like complimentary airport lounge access, you might need to consider other options. Let’s take a look at the Amex Business Gold rewards structure to help you decide whether you should apply for this card or keep looking for your perfect card match.

Benefits to know

The American Express Business Gold Card offers plenty of rewards and perks for small-business owners who are ready to invest in their business’s growth.

The card offers four Membership Rewards points per dollar spent in the two categories in which your business spends the most money each billing cycle. Eligible categories include these popular areas of business spending:

• Airfare purchases directly from airlines
• U.S. online, TV and radio advertising
• Computer hardware, software and cloud systems from select U.S. technology providers
• U.S. gas stations
• U.S. restaurants
• U.S. shipping purchases

You don’t have to choose your bonus categories; instead, you are awarded the 4X reward points in the two categories you spent the most in, helping you maximize your rewards potential.

You can also take advantage of perks like expense management tools, discounts at popular retailers, such as FedEx, car rental loss and damage insurance and trip delay insurance.

Although not super flashy, these kinds of perks can help you save money as you grow your business – and keep in mind that you can always request an upgrade to the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express once your business reaches the next level.

See related: Amex Business Gold vs. Amex Business Platinum

Who should get the Amex Business Gold?

If you’re not sure yet whether this card is right for you, see if you identify with these types of business owners for whom the Amex Business Gold is most likely to be a great fit.

Small-business owners with a lot of advertising spend

The American Express Business Gold Card is one of the best credit cards for online advertising – so, if your business does a lot of advertising spend, you might want to consider applying for this card and taking advantage of the 4X points you’ll earn on online advertising.

Small-business owners who travel occasionally

The Amex Business Gold isn’t a travel credit card but you can still earn 4X points on travel expenses like airfare and restaurants. Plus, every time you book a flight with American Express Travel using Membership Rewards Pay with Points, you’ll get 25% of those points back, which is a great way to maximize the value of your American Express Membership Rewards.

Add in a few extra travel benefits like trip delay insurance and car rental loss and damage insurance, and the Amex Business Gold card becomes an excellent option for the small-business owner who wants to save money on travel but isn’t ready to commit to paying the higher annual fees of a premium travel credit card.

See related: How I use my Amex Business Gold

Who shouldn’t get the Amex Business Gold?

If you fall into one of these types of business owners, you may be better off continuing your search for the perfect credit card.

Small-business owners who want high-level benefits and perks

The Amex Business Gold rewards have a lot to offer – but some small-business owners might want a little more out of their business credit cards, especially if they’re willing to pay a high annual fee for the privilege.

If you’re hoping for the kind of elite business credit card that offers high-level travel perks, for example, take a look at our list of the top business credit cards and see which options are most likely to benefit you and your business.

The Amex Business Platinum Card is always an option, especially if you’re interested in an American Express credit card. You might also want to consider the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card or another top business airline card, depending on which airlines serve your nearest airport.

One more option: If your small business is more of a startup – and if your corporate business account has a minimum balance of $100,000 – take a look at the Brex 30 Card and see if it’s right for you.

Small-business owners who are just starting out

If your small business is still relatively small, you might not be ready for a credit card with a $295 annual fee. You might also not spend enough money each month to take advantage of the Amex Business Gold’s most valuable rewards, like the 70,000-point bonus you can earn after spending $10,000 in the first three months.

If your business isn’t likely to spend $10,000 in the next quarter, you might want to consider a business credit card that’s designed to meet the needs of smaller businesses – such as the no-annual-fee American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, which offers 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in purchases per year.

Bottom line

The American Express Business Gold Card is a mid-level business credit card with a $295 annual fee. And although you can earn 4X points on several popular business spending categories, the Amex Business Gold rewards structure isn’t as straightforward as some, and the card doesn’t offer much in the way of additional perks.

That said, the Amex Business Gold is one of the best credit cards for online advertising – and an excellent option for small-business owners who might not yet be ready for the Business Platinum Card from Amex or similar premium business cards.