Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
An American Express business card application is a touch more complicated than what you'll find with Amex's consumer cards. But once you understand the terminology and how easy it can be to qualify for a business card, you unlock access to more credit card rewards. And the rewards you earn from American Express business cards and personal cards are automatically pooled together, which makes booking your next vacation with Amex points much easier.
Below, CNBC Select details how to complete an Amex business card application.
How to apply for an American Express business card
Advantages to having an American Express business card
How to qualify for an Amex Business card
Advantages to having an American Express business card
Opening an American Express business card is a great way to turn your business expenses into cash back or travel rewards. Having a credit card for your business is practical because it can streamline some of your bookkeeping by making it easier to separate your personal and business transactions.
Many Amex business cards also have benefits and perks tailored to small business owners. The American Express® Business Gold Card is a perfect example of this, earning a stellar 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
The American Express Business Gold Card maximizes spending with flexible bonus reward categories based on where your business spends the most.
- Earn up to $545 in credits every year for eligible business purchases
- Generous bonus rewards categories with high spending caps
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20 airline and hotel loyalty programs
- High annual fee
- Statement credit offers are earned on a monthly basis and only apply to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- As High As 200,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx (through 10/01/2026), Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
- Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Gold Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. purchases with Squarespace. Subscription purchases subject to auto-renewal.
- Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
- The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
- Terms Apply
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
For the business owner who values travel perks, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a good fit. It comes with access to 1,550+ airport lounges (enrollment required), up to in $200 in annual airline credits and $120 in application fee credits for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck. Cardholders can enroll and take advantage of gold status with Marriott and Hilton, as well as rental car privileges with Hertz, Avis and National.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.
- Access to 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass (Enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Hotel and rental car elite status perks
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned; Benefits may be subject to auto-renewal)
- High annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
- Some statement credit offers are earned in small increments or only apply to purchases from a single brand
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
- See how you can unlock over $4,000 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
- Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
- Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Platinum Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
- Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
How to qualify for an Amex Business card
To qualify for an American Express business card, you don't need to be running a start-up backed by venture capital or to have a brick-and-mortar store. Lots of side hustles and independent contractor gigs, such as running an eBay store or driving for Uber, could qualify you for a small business card.
Your personal finances also factor into whether you are approved for an Amex business card. The best cards typically require the highest credit scores. American Express also has specific rules for the cards it issues. For example, you usually aren't eligible for a card's welcome bonus offer if you currently have the card or have had that specific card before.
How to complete an Amex business card application
Most of the information you need to complete an American Express business card application is straightforward. You'll need to enter the following:
- Email Address
- Legal business name
- Business name on card
- Company DBA name (optional)
- Business address
- Industry type
- Company structure
- Years in business
- Number of employees
- Annual business revenue
- Estimated monthly spending
- Federal tax ID
- Role in company
If you're a sole proprietor, some of your business information could be the same as your personal information. A sole proprietor may be able to use their name as the legal business name and the business name displayed on the card, and their Social Security number could serve as their business's tax ID. The company DBA (doing business as) name only applies if you have registered what is known as a fictitious, assumed or trade name for the business. If you're the only person who works for your business, enter "1" for the number of employees.
American Express will also need some personal information, including your name, address, Social Security number, phone number, date of birth, and total annual income. If you're a current American Express cardholder, you can streamline this part of the application by logging into your account, in which case you'll only need to enter your business information and total annual income.
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Bottom line
Some of the best business cards are issued by American Express. These cards have benefits and rewards designed with business owners in mind. Qualifying for an Amex business card isn't as difficult as you may think. If you're a sole proprietor, you may be able to complete the application using your name as the business name and your Social Security number as your business tax ID.
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Read more
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
