When you want to book the most valuable award trips using points and miles, it may be tempting to look at premium credit cards. After all, these are the cards that award travel enthusiasts often recommend, and some of them can offer incredible benefits and very good bonus point offers.
But then there’s The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, which isn’t often described as a premium travel rewards card. After all, it has no annual fee, and very few unique benefits. But it’s an important card to have for two reasons. First, it offers you 2x points on all purchases, up to $50,000 per year, then 1x. And also, these are actual Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to airline miles and hotel points, just like with other cards including the American Express Business Gold Card and even The Business Platinum® Card American Express. (See rates and fees)
Related: Business Owner? Consider the New Brex Corporate Card for Travel Rewards
In fact, these rewards transfer to miles with 19 different airline partners including Delta, British Airways, Air Canada, Air France/KLM, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Qantas, Singapore and Virgin Atlantic. You can also transfer your rewards to points with the Marriott Bonvoy and Choice Privileges hotel programs. When you’re able to transfer your rewards to travel partners, and redeem them for expensive hotel reservations or premium class international flights, then you can often realize several cents in value per point or mile redeemed.
Other benefits include 12 months of 0% APR financing on both new purchases and balance transfers (then a variable APR 14.99% - 20.99%. And like other American Express small business credit cards, you get employee cards at no additional cost, and can designate an account manager to administer your card. The Spend Manager benefit allows you to add receipts and notes online or from your mobile app. It also connects to QuickBooks and provides free year-end summaries.
A Cash Back alternative: The American Express® Blue Business Cash Card
If travel rewards aren’t your thing, then you may wish to look at the American Express® Blue Business Cash Card. It offers you 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per year, and 1% cash back after that. And like the Blue Business Plus, you’ll also receive 12 months of 0% APR financing on both new purchases and balance transfers (then a 14.24% - 20.24% variable), and there’s no annual fee. (See rates and fees)
Related: How to Fly for (Almost) Free Using Credit Card Points
Bottom Line
It’s great to earn 2x points or 2% cash back from a small business card, even if it doesn’t offer any bonus categories. For some cardholders, one of these cards makes for the perfect complement to a premium rewards card that only offers 1x points or 1% cash back on most purchases. By using one of these under-rated American Express cards, you can earn more rewards than you may have thought possible.
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