Maximizing the Welcome Offer on The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: How It Works
Learn how the Business Platinum Card® from American Express welcome offer works, including spending requirements and Membership Rewards® Points.
We may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our site but our editorial selection of products is made independently. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. We calculate a typical annual reward for each card, assuming $36,000 spent annually and less any annual fee. Interest rates, fees, rewards and other terms listed in this article are subject to change. Before you apply for a credit card, check its current terms and conditions with the issuer.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has the grandaddy of all intro rewards card offers.
Apply and find out your welcome offer: You might be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in your first three months of Membership. Terms apply. Welcome offers vary, and you might not be eligible for an offer.
Assessing the average value of American Express Membership Rewards® is tricky, because there are many ways to redeem them. American Express values each point between 0.6 cents and a penny. Bankrate and The Points Guy value each point at up to two cents, assuming cardholders employ the best redemption strategies. This article assumes each point is worth between one and two cents. We estimate that 300,000 points are worth from $3,000 to $5,000.
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The intro offer requirement of $20,000 spent in the first three months is steep. Before you apply, make sure your business can easily spend this amount on purchases that can be made on a card.
Business Platinum Card Overview
The fine print
- Find out your offer: You might be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in your first three months of membership. Terms apply. Welcome offers vary, and you might not be eligible for an offer.
- Earn five-times points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. One-times points on other eligible purchases
- Two-times 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.
- One-times points on other eligible purchases
- 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).
- Hotel credits: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 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.
- 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 aren't an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
- Lounge access. 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.
- Annual fee: $895.
- Interest rates: Variable APR based on your creditworthiness as determined at the time of account opening. See Rates & Fees.
- Terms Apply.
- If you want a cheaper card, try the American Express® Business Gold Card, with an annual fee of $375. See Gold Card rates and fees.
Platinum Card FAQs
How can I redeem points?
You can redeem points on travel, trips, gift cards, or shop via the amextravel.com platform. To get the best value, you should stick to travel or transit purchases and track the best redemption rates by category. If you redeem points at Amazon or other online retailers, for example, you will only get 0.7 cents per point, but buying a trip from a New York taxicab will get you the full one cent per point.
You might also transfer points to partner airlines or hotel chain rewards programs, typically for about one cent per point. Terms apply. The transfer partner airlines skew toward international carriers such as Air France, but three domestic carriers participate, including Delta, JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines.
What is the value of a point?
Assessing the average value of American Express Membership Rewards® is tricky because there are many ways to redeem them. American Express values each point from 0.6 cents to a penny. Bankrate and The Points Guy value each point at up to two cents, assuming cardholders employ the best redemption strategies. This article assumes each point is worth between one and two cents. We estimate that 200,000 points are worth from $2,000 to $4,000. The final value of the points will depend on how dedicated you are to getting the most value from your rewards cards.
What are the travel benefits?
This card offers excellent travel benefits. For example, a WalletHub study found that American Express cards provided some of the best rental car insurance benefits. In addition to standard coverage, American Express offers Premium Car Rental Protection for a small fee per rental period, not per day. Unlike many other plans, this benefit also extends to SUVs and luxury cars.* Terms apply.
Insurance Disclaimer: Eligibility and Benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Are American Express cards good?
Amex cardholders are generally happy with their cards. The personal Platinum Card from American Express was named outstanding for customer service in the 2024 Kiplinger Readers' Choice Awards. Terms apply.
Other Business Cards
If the Business Platinum Card's annual fee is too dear for your wallet, consider alternatives such as the American Express® Business Gold Card or the Capital One Spark Miles for Business card.
American Express Business Gold Card
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
What to Consider Before Getting a Business Card
Before you apply for a business credit card, here are some potential things to keep in mind to determine whether it's the right move:
- Your credit score: Most of the top business credit cards require good or excellent credit, which means a FICO credit score of 670 or higher. If your score is lower than that, your options may be limited.
- Potential costs: Business credit cards often charge high interest rates, and some also assess an annual fee. You can avoid interest by paying your balance in full each month, but if you think you'll be carrying a balance, consider how potential interest charges could impact your bottom line. If you're thinking about getting a card with an annual fee, make sure you can get enough value from the rewards program and perks to make up for it.
- Whether you can take on another financial account: Managing multiple financial accounts can be challenging. If you already have multiple personal and business accounts to keep track of, adding another one could make things more complicated. In some cases, it can make sense to stick with what you already have, as long as you have enough accounts to keep personal and business expenses separate.
- Your reasons for wanting one: Business credit cards can help with everyday cash flow, but if you're looking to finance growth in your business beyond the initial stages, you might want to consider a small business loan instead. Don't think that using a business credit card will shield you from responsibility if your company goes under — business card issuers typically require a personal guarantee when you apply, so you'll still be personally liable for the debt.
- Security: Make sure you can keep the account secure, particularly from potential business partners and employees.
Related Content
- Best Business Credit Cards
- Credit Cards That Cover Rental Car Insurance
- Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view of the best deals and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities. *American Express Card disclaimer on insurance benefits. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
