American Express: Benefits of Amex Business Cards

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Marie-Ève Leclerc
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Marie-Ève, Web Director at Milesopedia, is an expert in budget travel and a slow travel enthusiast. Specializing in Aeroplan, Scene+, and Marriott Bonvoy programs, she spends nearly six months a year abroad, making travel her way of life. Constantly seeking the best waves to surf, excellent coffee, and strategies to extend her travels, she is often found in coworking spaces with fellow digital nomads or by the sea, watching the sunset.
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American Express Cartes Entreprise PME
To the point Discover the benefits of Amex business cards: rewards, flexibility, and management tools for SMEs and self-employed individuals.

The American Express business credit cards offer much more than just a payment method. They allow you to manage your expenses, protect your business, and earn Membership Rewards points. Whether you are self-employed, an SME owner, or a manager of a large organization, these cards offer tangible benefits: rewards, insurance, tracking tools, and payment flexibility. This article details the benefits of Amex business cards and guides you in choosing the most suitable card.

Who are Amex business cards for?

The American Express business credit cards are for various types of entrepreneurs; they are not exclusively reserved for large organizations.

  • Self-employed individuals: If you are a consultant, freelancer, or independent professional, an Amex business card helps you separate your business and personal expenses, while earning rewards;
  • SMEs: Small businesses benefit from payment flexibility, insurance coverage, and tracking tools. These benefits facilitate cash flow management and reduce financial stress;
  • Large businesses: More established organizations benefit from advanced management tools, such as detailed statements, employee cards, and consolidated reports. This simplifies financial control and planning.

In short, Amex business cards are suitable for any organization that wants to optimize its expenses, earn rewards, and have tools adapted to its development.

Selection criteria for an Amex business card

To choose the best card for your business, consider:

  • Monthly spending volume: some cards offer more points in specific categories;
  • Reward goals: travel, hotels, transfers to partner programs, or statement credits;
  • Business size: cards suitable for self-employed individuals, SMEs, or large businesses;
  • Need for management tools: detailed reports, employee cards, category tracking;
  • Desired insurance coverage: travel, accident, purchase protection, vehicle rental.

These criteria help you maximize the value of your rewards and manage business expenses.

Benefits of Amex Business Cards

The benefits of Amex Business Cards are numerous, including advantages for frequent travelers and online offers.

Financial flexibility

American Express offers several business cards tailored for self-employed individuals, SMEs, and professionals. To choose wisely, you must first understand the different types available.

A charge card is a card that must be paid in full each month. Its advantage is having no pre-set spending limit. Moreover, these cards allow you to maximize the cash flow over 55 days, which is convenient.

An Amex business credit card allows you to carry a balance from one month to the next with interest (which is generally not recommended). It has a predefined credit limit, adjustable according to your needs. If American Express offers a limit increase, it will not affect your credit file.

Tip: For small businesses with many monthly transactions, an Amex business charge card is recommended. If you are a self-employed individual or professional with few monthly transactions, an Amex business credit card is more suitable.

Rewards and Membership Rewards points

The Amex business cards allow you to earn Membership Rewards points with every purchase. Depending on the card, you get up to 1.25 points per dollar spent, and sometimes more for certain categories.

How to use your points:

  • Statement credit to offset your business expenses;
  • Transfer to partner programs: Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, etc.

Some cards offer welcome bonuses to quickly start earning points. This flexibility maximizes the value of your rewards for travel, hotels, and business purchases.

Cash flow optimization

With an Amex business card, you can better manage your cash flow thanks to an interest-free period on your purchases.

You generally benefit from 28 to 31 interest-free days after your statement closing date, depending on the length of the month and your purchase dates. This period may vary slightly depending on when you make your transactions.

If you pay your entire bill each month, including purchases, advances, and fees, you will not have to pay any interest. By optimizing your payments in this way, you can enjoy a period of up to 55 interest-free days for purchases made at the beginning of the cycle.

Travel benefits for businesses

American Express Global Lounge Collection

For example, the American ExpressMD Business Platinum Card gives you or your employees ($250 per additional card) access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, comprising over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including:

Tools and insurance for businesses

The benefits of Amex business cards go beyond rewards.

Management tools:

  • Supplementary employee cards with spending limit and category control;
  • Detailed reports and category tracking to simplify accounting;
  • Separation of personal and business expenses.
expense management reports amex

Insurance :

  • Travel and accident insurance for business trips;
  • Purchase protection and extended warranty for professional equipment;
  • Collision/rental vehicle insurance for business needs.

These benefits help to secure your operations, optimize your expenses, and maximize your rewards.

Online promotions and offers

The Amex business cards regularly offer promotions to help businesses maximize their rewards:

  • Welcome bonus: varies by card;
  • Offers on certain purchase categories: extra points on travel purchases, restaurants, or office supplies;
  • Seasonal benefits: privileged access to events or partner offers for businesses.

These promotions evolve regularly, so it is recommended to check your app or your Amex Canada account.

Welcome Offers from Amex Business Cards

Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Business Platinum Card® from American Express Centurion

Earn up to 120,000 points with this welcome offer for the American Express Business Platinum Card:

  • 80,000 Membership Rewards points for $15,000 net purchases within the first 3 months of membership
  • 40,000 additional points if you make a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after enrollment

You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:

  • Transfer your points to airline partners: Aeroplan Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Iberia), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
  • Transfer your points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
  • Redeem your points for statement credits to offset any eligible purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
  • And more!

120,000 points have a minimum value of $1,200 for a Statement credit, and much more if you transfer your points to a partner.

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

  • 120,000 Aeroplan points
  • 120,000 Avios
  • 90,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 144,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you earn 1.25 Membership Rewards points per dollar on all purchases. What’s more, you’ll enjoy a host of travel and business benefits:

  • Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to over 1,400 airport lounges in over 130 countries
  • $200 Annual travel credit
  • $100 Card Statement Credit for Nexus
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • Hilton Honors Gold Elite status
  • Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program
  • Up to $120 in eligible Wireless Credits each year

With this Card you can maximize your cash flow with up to 55 interest free days. It is a card that is particularly appreciated by contractors when making large purchases in home improvement stores, for example.

Last but not least, Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card®

Earn up to 40,000 Membership Rewards points* with the American Expressᴹᴰ Gold Rewards Card:

  • 40,000 Membership Rewards points after $7,500 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • 10,000 additional Membership Rewards points for each quarter in which you spend at least $20,000 (for a total of 80,000 points in the first year).

With this Card, you earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar on your purchases.

You can then use your points in many ways:

  • Statement credit for travel purchases
  • Statement credit for all purchases
  • Transfer to partner programs (Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Delta Skymiles, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, etc.).
  • Book your flight with American Express Travel at a special rate

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

  • 80,000 Aeroplan points
  • 80,000 Avios points
  • 60,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 96,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Alternatively, 80,000 Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for $800 worth of travel or any other Card purchase.

Also, as a cardmember, you get many advantages such as up to 55 interest-free days to maximize your cash flow.

Finally, you are covered with reliable insurance for your travels and purchases.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card

TD Salon AC-43

With this welcome offer for the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card, you can earn up to 90,000 Aeroplan points:

  • Earn 65,000 Aeroplan points after making $10,500 in purchases in the first three months.
  • Earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,500 in the 13th month.

With this Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2X the points on hotels and car rentals. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.

With this Card, you benefit from many Air Canada travel benefits such as access to Maple Leaf lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling.

Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card

bonvoy companycard featured image

The Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card is the best credit card for the self-employed, professionals and small business owners who travel.

With this welcome offer, earn up to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points:

  • Earn 60,000 points after charging a total of $5,000 to your Card in your first 3 months of membership.

It’s a card we recommend you keep, because each year at renewal, you’ll get an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points, plus 15 Elite nights per year, counting towards your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.

With this Card, you earn 5 points per dollar for all your spending at Marriott Bonvoy establishments, and you can earn 3 points per dollar for :

  • Gas
  • Dining
  • Travel

And 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Bottom Line

The Amex business credit cards combine generous rewards, financial flexibility, and management tools. Whether your priority is to earn points for travel, to optimize your cash flow, or to simplify accounting, an Amex business card can become a strategic asset. Before choosing, evaluate your needs and compare the available offers. The benefits of Amex business cards can truly support your growth and simplify your daily management.

What are the Main Benefits of an Amex Business Card?

They offer rewards, payment flexibility, insurance coverage, and expense tracking tools.

Can an SME get an Amex Business Card?

Yes. Amex business cards are for self-employed individuals, SMEs, and large organizations.

What Rewards Do Amex Business Cards Offer?

Depending on the card, you earn Membership Rewards points, credits to offset your expenses, or transfers to partner programs.

What is the Difference between a Personal Amex Card and a Business Card?

The Amex business card separates business expenses and offers benefits tailored to business needs.

Do Amex Business Cards Offer Insurance?

Yes, they cover travel, purchases, rental vehicles, and accidents related to professional activities.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Vincent Morin
Vincent Morin
Vincent reached financial independence and retired early (FIRE) at the age of 35. After a career in financial technologies for a large American investment bank, he founded Retraite101, a personal finance site that reaches more than 350,000 unique visitors per year and has more than 40,000 followers on social media. Passionate about personal finance, cycling, reading and gardening, he continues to write to inspire and motivate Quebecers to take charge of their finances.
All posts by Vincent Morin

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