Essential Insights
The American Express® Business Gold Card invites you to accumulate 4X points—capped at $150,000 annually, afterward earning 1X point—in the top two spending categories from a select roster of six where your enterprise charges the most each billing cycle. This card channels your spending into the versatile American Express Membership Rewards ecosystem, renowned for delivering exceptional travel redemption value.
Despite carrying a heftier annual fee, the Amex Business Gold’s generous signup bonuses and rewarding points structure often justify its cost.
What Sets the Amex Business Gold Apart?
One standout feature of this business card is the ability to reap quadruple points within two of six eligible categories where your company spends the most per billing period, up to $150,000 yearly, before reverting to 1X points. This flexibility lets your spending habits dictate where the rewards stack up highest.
Snapshot of Key Features
- Intro Bonus: Score 100,000 Membership Rewards points after charging $15,000 on qualifying purchases within the initial 3 months.
- Points Multipliers: Earn 4X points in your top two eligible business categories annually (limit $150K), 3X points on qualifying travel expenses, and 1X on all other spending.
- Annual Fee: $375
- Variable APR: Ranges from 18.49% to 29.24% for Pay Over Time balances.
Eligible 4X Bonus Categories
Your business’s top two spending categories for the 4X multiplier may include:
- Advertising bought from U.S. media providers (online, television, radio)
- Fuel purchases at U.S. gas stations
- Dining expenses within the U.S., including takeout and delivery
- U.S. purchases of computer software, hardware, and cloud services from select providers
- Transit-related charges such as trains, taxis, rideshares, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- Wireless phone bills from U.S. carriers
Travel-Oriented Advantages
The Amex Business Gold extends a suite of travel perks designed to smooth out your journeys and enhance safety.
Global Assist Hotline
More than 100 miles away from your home? This helpline offers emergency assistance—from medical and legal referrals to passport replacement, lost baggage help, language translation, and more.
Baggage Insurance
Pay with your card and get coverage up to $1,250 per person for carry-ons, plus up to $500 per person for checked luggage lost during travel via common carriers (restrictions apply).
Car Rental Loss and Damage Coverage
When the entire rental cost is paid by your card, you gain secondary coverage for up to $50,000 per rental agreement, valid for rentals lasting 30 days or less (some limitations apply).
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Delayed over 12 hours during a trip booked with a common carrier? This coverage pays up to $300 per trip for unexpected expenses like meals, lodging, or toiletries—allowed twice annually.
Shopping Protection and Warranty Benefits
Beyond travel, this card safeguards your purchases by providing:
Purchase Protection
Your eligible items are guarded against damage or theft for 90 days post-purchase, with up to $1,000 coverage per item and a yearly maximum of $50,000 per account. Natural disaster coverage adds another $500.
Extended Warranty
Get an extra year on manufacturer warranties of five years or less, covering items up to $10,000 each and $50,000 per card annually.
Cellphone Coverage
By settling your cellphone bill with the Amex Business Gold, you unlock reimbursement for repairs or replacement up to $800 per claim, with two claims allowed annually, each subject to a $50 deductible.
Dining and Entertainment Perks
Elevate your dining occasions, special events, and hotel stays with:
The Hotel Collection
Reserve two consecutive nights or more at eligible properties through Amex Travel and receive a $100 experience credit for hotel activities like spa treatments or dining, plus potential room upgrades upon check-in.
American Express Preferred Seating
This exclusive perk grants early access and preferred seats to concerts, shows, and sports events, often before tickets open to the public.
Amex Experiences
Enjoy invites to private and early-access events spanning music, theater, sports, dining, and fashion, curated for cardholders.
Business Management Utilities
Keep a tight grip on expenses and simplify bookkeeping with benefits such as:
Year-End Spending Summary
Access an annual spending report at the beginning of each year, downloadable as Excel or PDF from your online account.
QuickBooks Integration
Streamline your accounting by linking your Amex Business Gold with Intuit QuickBooks for automatic transaction categorization.
Vendor Pay via Bill.com
Earn points on bills paid through Bill.com’s platform. The Basic plan offers a free monthly user for the first user, plus a complimentary six-month period for a second user before a $15 monthly fee applies.
Employee Cards
Equip your staff with employee cards to rack up rewards on their business spending. You control spending limits and receive instant alerts on purchases. The annual fee is $95 for the first five employees and per card thereafter, supporting up to 99 total cards.
Strategies for Maximizing Rewards
To squeeze the most out of your Amex Business Gold, funnel all eligible business expenditures through this card, especially within the 4X bonus categories capped at $150,000 annually.
Amplify rewards further by pairing this card with complementary Amex products and regularly scouting Amex Offers for ongoing discounts and bonus deals.
Pairing with Other Amex Cards
Complement your Business Gold by pairing it with other American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points. For example, use a card offering 2X points on $50,000 of spend to cover non-bonus categories, boosting your overall rewards haul.
Capitalizing on Amex Offers
Keep an eye on your account for tailored offers that can transform the $375 annual fee into a bargain, especially since maxing out the bonus categories can yield 600,000 Membership Rewards points annually.
Notably, Membership Rewards points typically hold a value of around 2 cents each when redeemed through high-value transfer partners, enhancing their worth significantly.
Note: Benefits and eligibility vary by cardholder. Terms and restrictions apply. For complete details, please consult the official American Express site. Coverage underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
