If you’re a small-business owner or have a side hustle, paying a credit card annual fee may not be feasible when trying to save on costs. Luckily, American Express offers two business-oriented, no-annual-fee cards with solid welcome offers: The Blue Business Plus Credit Card and the American Express Blue Business Cash Card. In this article, we will review these cards’ elevated welcome bonuses and evaluate their worth.
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express offers a welcome offer of 15,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. This is worth $300, according to TPG’s latest valuations. The card has no annual fee and earns 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 spent on purchases each calendar year, and 1 point per dollar on purchases afterward.
On the other hand, the American Express Blue Business Cash Card offers a $250 cash back via a statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership. Like the Blue Business Plus card, it has no annual fee. The card earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, and then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
Both cards have similar earning rates, so the decision comes down to whether you prefer earning Membership Rewards points for travel or cash back. The Blue Business Plus card earns points through the Membership Rewards program, allowing for a wide array of redemption options. You can transfer your points to Amex’s 21 airline and hotel loyalty partners for potentially higher value redemptions. If you already have another Membership Rewards-earning card, you can pool your points and maximize their value. On the other hand, the Blue Business Cash card offers simplicity with cash back rewards automatically credited to your account as a statement credit.
Both cards come with additional benefits and perks, such as expense management tools and free employee cards upon request. They also offer travel and shopping protections, including car rental loss and damage insurance and purchase protection. The specific benefits and eligibility may vary by card.
Overall, both the Blue Business Plus and Blue Business Cash cards are excellent options for small businesses looking to maximize their purchases without dealing with confusing bonus categories. The welcome bonuses offered by these cards are an added incentive, as they typically do not have welcome offers. If you’re considering applying for either card, now is a great time to do so and start earning rewards for your business expenses.
In conclusion, as a small-business owner or someone with a side hustle, you may find it difficult to justify paying a credit card annual fee. Thankfully, American Express offers two business-oriented, no-annual-fee cards with solid welcome offers: The Blue Business Plus Credit Card and the American Express Blue Business Cash Card. These cards provide excellent earning rates, additional benefits, and perks, making them attractive options for small-business owners and individuals looking to save on costs.