The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is genuinely one of the best business cards out there: airport lounge access, solid earning rates, a mountain of statement credits. Terms apply. But an $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) is a lot to ask, and not every business owner can justify it.
Luckily, if you’re looking for great perks without that kind of commitment, there are plenty of options. Here are three of my favorite business cards to check out if you don’t want to pay the Amex Business Platinum Card’s annual fee.
1. American Express® Business Gold Card: For business owners who still want valuable perks
If you like the idea of an Amex business card but can’t justify $895 a year (see rates and fees), the American Express® Business Gold Card is a natural step down.
The $375 annual fee (see rates and fees) is still a bit hefty, but you’ll get more than enough valuable perks to make up for it:
- $300 back per year on U.S. ChatGPT Business subscriptions
- $240 in flexible business credits: Up to $20 back per month on eligible purchases at FedEx (through Oct. 1), Grubhub, and office supply stores. Enrollment required.
- $155 in Walmart+ credits: Up to $12.95 back per month (plus applicable taxes) after you pay for a Walmart+ membership with the card.
- Up to $150 per calendar year toward U.S. Squarespace purchases
- 4X points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories on the first $150,000 in combined purchases (then 1X thereafter)
- 3X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™
- Terms apply; enrollment may be required
For a business with concentrated spending in a couple of categories, the 4X earning rate can absolutely justify the fee on its own. Add it perks like the ChatGPT credit, and it makes for a much easier sell than the Amex Business Platinum Card.
Current welcome bonus offer: Apply and find out if you are 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.
2. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: For strong rewards at a reasonable price
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) has a $95 annual fee — $800 less than the Amex Business Platinum Card’s — and still delivers as a legitimately strong business card for travel.
You’ll get:
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
The 3X categories are capped at $150,000 in combined purchases per year, which is plenty of room for most small businesses. Also, your points can be transferred to Chase partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest so you can squeeze even more value out of them.
If you want strong earning rates without all the bells and whistles, the Chase Ink Business Preferred is worth a look. It’s also got a great welcome offer to sweeten the deal.
Current sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
3. Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: For simplified business spending
Want a card that earns solid rewards without having to track any bonus categories whatsoever? If so, I recommend the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
For no annual fee, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited earns a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no caps. It’s particularly great if your spending is spread across lots of different categories, or you just want to simplify your card strategy.
If you pair it with the Chase Ink Business Preferred or one of Chase’s personal Sapphire cards, you can convert your cash back into transferable Ultimate Rewards points. That makes it a viable option if you want to get more into the travel rewards space down the road.
Current sign-up bonus: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.