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American Express® Business Gold Card: Bonuses in select business categories for small business owners

American Express® Business Gold Card card art
American Express® Business Gold Card

The American Express® Business Gold Card offers generous rewards for small businesses that spend heavily in the card’s bonus categories coupled with strong consumer protections like extended warranty and purchase protection.

Here’s what you need to know about the American Express® Business Gold Card.

American Express® Business Gold Card at a glance

American Express® Business Gold Card card art

Annual fee: annual_fees
Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee
(See Rates and Fees)

Our take on the American Express® Business Gold Card

The American Express® Business Gold Card is best for you if your small business spending matches up with the card’s bonus categories and you use Membership Rewards® points for transfers to one of Amex’s partners.

Consider another card if you want cash back rewards, travel benefits, or rewards on your general business spending.

Welcome offer

bonus_miles_full

Learn more and apply.

Rewards

  • 4x in your top two eligible categories each business cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, 1x thereafter.
  • 3x flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
  • 1x other eligible purchases

Rewards are earned as Membership Rewards® points.

American Express Membership Rewards® can offer great value if you transfer the points to one of Amex’s many travel transfer partners. You can also redeem the points for travel through Amex Travel.

One important downside to Membership Rewards is that the points cannot be redeemed for cash back at a decent rate in most cases. See our article on how to cash out Membership Rewards® if you’re interested in cash back rewards.

Benefits

Terms apply to all benefits. Some benefits require enrollment.

Consumer insurance benefits

  • Extended warranty
  • Purchase protection
  • Cell phone protection

Travel insurance benefits

  • Baggage insurance plan
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Trip delay insurance

Statement credits and partner offers

  • $240 flexible business credit—for purchases at select business merchants.
  • $155 Walmart+ credit—for Walmart+ monthly membership.
  • $100 experience credit at The Hotel Collection.

Rewards: Membership Rewards® in business categories

The American Express® Business Gold Card offers 4x Membership Rewards® points in two select categories where you spend the most each statement cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year (then 1%), plus 3x Membership Rewards on flights and prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel.

4xYour top 2 eligible categories each billing cycle
on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, 1x thereafter.

Eligible categories include:
Purchases at US media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
U.S. purchases at gas stations
Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
3x Flights and pre-paid hotels
booked on amextravel.com.
1xOther eligible purchases.
Rewards of the American Express® Business Gold Card

American Express Membership Rewards® can offer great value if you transfer the points to one of Amex’s many travel transfer partners. You can also redeem the points for travel through Amex Travel.

One important downside to Membership Rewards is that the points cannot be redeemed for cash back at a decent rate in most cases. See our article on how to cash out Membership Rewards® if you’re interested in cash back rewards.

Benefits of the American Express® Business Gold Card

In addition to earning rewards in business-related bonus categories, the American Express® Business Gold Card offers useful consumer and travel insurance benefits for the small business owner. Here’s more on this card’s benefits.

Consumer insurance benefits

The American Express® Business Gold Card protects the things you buy with consumer insurance benefits including purchase protection and extended warranty. The card also offers a cell phone protection benefit. Expand each section to learn more.

Purchase protection

Amex Purchase Protection protects the things you buy with your card from damage or theft for a certain amount of time after you buy them. You receive purchase protection when you purchase an eligible item using your card.

Essential purchase protection terms
  • Covers damage to or theft of a covered purchase.
  • Covers eligible items up to 90 days from the date of purchase.
  • Coverage limits are $1,000 per covered purchase and $50,000 per eligible card per calendar year.
  • Covers up to $00 per purchase protection covered event for natural disasters

Extended warranty

Amex Extended Warranty provides up to 1 extra year of warranty coverage on eligible items you buy that have an original manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less.

Essential extended warranty terms
  • Provides protection that matches the original manufacturer’s warranty, up to 1 additional year.
  • Coverage begins after the expiration of the original manufacturer’s warranty or purchased service contract.
  • Coverage limits are $10,000 per covered purchase and $50,000 per eligible card per calendar year.

Cell phone protection

Covers the cost of repairing your phone if it is damaged or stolen when you pay your eligible monthly cell phone bill with your card.

Essential cell phone protection terms
  • Covers actual cost to repair or replace a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone
  • Covers cracked screens.
  • Coverage limited to 2 claims per eligible account per 12 month period and $800 per claim.
  • Subject to a $50 deductible per claim

Travel insurance benefits

The American Express® Business Gold Card provides a handful of useful travel insurance benefits that you can take advantage of when you book travel with your card.

Trip delay insurance

Trip delay insurance can cover the additional expenses you incur for items such as meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication when your trip is significantly delayed. Amex trip delay insurance covers delays of more than 12 hours and covers the card member, family members, and traveling companions.

Essential trip delay insurance terms

  • Trip delay insurance covers delays of more than 12 hours.
  • Covers reasonable additional expenses, such as meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication.
  • Benefit limit is $300 per covered trip and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 month consecutive period.
  • Travel must be round-trip, beginning and ending in the same city, and must not exceed 365 days.
  • The full amount of transportation by common carrier must be charged to your eligible card.

Amex baggage insurance plan

The Amex baggage insurance plan covers the replacement cost of baggage if your baggage is damaged or lost while in transit to or from a common carrier’s terminal (such as an airport or cruise terminal),

Essential baggage insurance plan terms

  • Carry-on baggage is covered up to $1,250 per covered person.
  • Checked baggage is covered up to $500 per covered person while traveling on a common carrier vehicle.
  • Additional limits apply to high-risk items and for cardmembers in New York State.

Car rental loss and damage insurance

American Express car rental loss and damage insurance covers your rental car against damage or theft when you reserve and pay for the entire rental of a rental vehicle with your eligible card.

Essential car rental loss and damage insurance terms

  • Covers up to $50,000 per rental agreement for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle.
  • Coverage is secondary to your other insurance.
  • Excludes vehicle rentals in Australia, Italy, or New Zealand.
  • Also covers reasonable and customary additional charges such as loss of use and towing.
  • You must decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver or similar insurance coverage.

Statement credits and partner offers

The American Express® Business Gold Card features a flexible business credit, credit for a Walmart+ membership and benefits when staying with The Hotel Collection hotels. Expand each section to learn more.

$240 flexible business credit

Earn up to $20 in statement credits each month when you use your American Express® Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at select merchants. Enrollment required. Select merchants include:

  • FedEx
  • Grubhub
  • Office supply stores

Walmart+ monthly membership credit

Receive a statement credit, up to $12.95, plus applicable taxes, after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your eligible card. Enrollment in Walmart+ membership is required. Membership is subject to auto-renewal.

The Hotel Collection

Receive the following benefits at participating The Hotel Collection hotels when you book and stay at least two consecutive nights:

  • $100 experience credit good for qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities. Eligible expenses vary by property.
  • Room upgrade upon check-in, based on availability. Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrades.

American Express Disclosures

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, see this link: See Rates and Fees

Amex Basic Purchase Protection benefit disclosure: When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited to up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.   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.

Amex Extended Warranty benefit disclosure: When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.   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.

Amex Cell Phone Protection benefit disclosure: Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period.   Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Amex Basic Trip Delay Insurance disclosure: Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.   Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Amex Basic Baggage Insurance Plan disclosure: Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.   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.

Amex Basic Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance disclosure: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

About the author

  • Photo of Aaron Hurd, credit card and travel rewards expert.

    Aaron Hurd is a credit card, travel rewards, and loyalty program expert. Over the past 15 years, he has authored over a thousand expert contributions published by leading outlets including WSJ, TIME, Newsweek, Forbes, NerdWallet, The Points Guy, Bankrate, CNET, and many others. He has also served in consulting roles for many of these same outlets, designing content strategy, hiring teams of teams of editors and contributors, developing thought-leadership pieces, and ghost-editing for senior editors. Aaron is well-known in the miles and points community and regularly presents about travel rewards at conferences like the Chicago Seminars and Minnebar. Aaron has enjoyed the game of optimizing credit card rewards since getting his first credit card shortly after he turned 18. He started learning about credit cards and travel rewards from the (now defunct) FatWallet Finance forums and FlyerTalk. He holds more than 40 open credit cards and has first-hand experience with almost every major credit card product.

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