Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
If you’re a small business owner with select American Express cards, you may have heard of Pay Over Time, which gives you the ability to carry a balance with interest up to your Pay Over Time Limit.
This benefit is meant to provide more payment flexibility, and new and existing Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, American Express® Business Gold Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Platinum card members are auto-enrolled for the feature.
While Amex is traditionally known for its pay-in-full card model, the company is making adjustments to its card lineup to accommodate the changing needs of business owners.
"We’ve long heard from our card members who are small business owners that increased payment flexibility is important to them. This is especially critical during these times of uncertainty,” Brett Sussman, vice president of global commercial card lending at American Express, said in a press release.
American Express has seen 55% of existing business card members choose to enroll in Pay Over Time, predominately to increase inventory for busy seasons, buy in bulk for a discount or help with cash flow.
How Pay Over Time works
Pay Over Time is a buy now, pay later feature that applies to eligible purchases. Amex states that annual fees, cash advances, including cash and other cash equivalents, certain insurance premiums and any other fees owed to American Express are not eligible for Pay Over Time.
Purchases that are added to Pay Over Time incur interest beginning on the date you make the transaction. (Refer to your card member agreement or online account for the APR.) However, you can avoid interest by paying your Total New Balance in full by your payment due date.
While your card has no preset spending limit, there is a Pay Over Time limit that acts like a traditional credit limit. (You'll find your limit in your card member agreement or online account.) You won’t be able to carry any balances exceeding your Pay Over Time limit.
New and existing card members will be auto-enrolled in Pay Over Time, but you can turn the feature on and off as needed.
Bottom line
If you're a small business owner with a Green, Gold or Platinum Amex business card and occasionally carry a balance from month-to-month, Pay Over Time can be a helpful way to receive more flexibility with your payments. However, if you regularly carry a balance, you should consider using a business card that offers a promotional 0% APR.
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express both provide an introductory 0% APR for the first 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening (then 16.74% - 28.49% variable APR, APRs will not exceed 29.99%; see Blue Business Cash rates and fees and Blue Business Plus rates and fees). Either of these cards are a great way to finance business expenses over your first year as a card member without incurring interest.
Amex business cards typically require an excellent credit score to qualify. When applying, you may need to enter your employer identification number (EIN) and/or social security number (SSN).
The Business Green Rewards Card from American Express offers access to Amex's travel partners with a lower annual fee.
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs
- No preset spending limit
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other business credit cards
- Low welcome offer
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Green Rewards Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership
- Earn one Membership Rewards® point for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases
- Pay Over Time gives you the ability to carry a balance with interest up to your Pay Over Time Limit, so you can handle expected and unexpected expenses that come your way
- From travel to top brands, and everything in between – use Membership Rewards® points on the reward that means the most to you
- $95 Annual Fee
- Terms & Limitations Apply
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
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
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
Don’t miss:
For rates and fees of the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
Correction: Annual fee charges are ineligible for Pay Over Time for business cards. An earlier version stated that Pay Over Time applies to your business card's annual fee.
