American Express Blue Business® Plus vs. Blue Business Cash™

Hunting for a business credit card? Both The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card are good options.

In fact, these cards are almost identical: They both charge no annual fee, offer most of the same perks and generate plenty of rewards points.

The big difference? The Blue Business Plus card doles out those rewards in the form of points, while the Blue Business Cash card delivers them as cash back.

Which business card is right for you? You’ll first need to determine whether your business would benefit most from the boost in its cash flow that comes with a robust cash back program or points that you can redeem for flights, hotel stays, gift cards or merchandise.

Here’s a look at how both Amex cards operate to help you make the right decision for your business.

Card	The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express	American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Introductory interest rate	0% on all purchases for first 12 months after opening account (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)	0% on all purchases during first 12 months after opening account (then 13.24% to 19.24% variable)
Rewards	2 points per dollar for first $50,000 of purchases during a year, then 1 point per dollar after that	2% cash back per dollar spent on first $50,000 of purchases during a calendar year, then 1% cash back per dollar after that
Annual fee	$0	$0

Earning rewards

The Blue Business Plus and Blue Business Cash credit cards differ mostly in how their rewards programs work.

The Blue Business Plus card has a points-based rewards system. You’ll earn 2 points for every dollar you charge on the first $50,000 in purchases each year. After you hit that $50,000 limit, you’ll earn 1 point for each dollar you spend.

The Blue Business Cash card has a similar rewards system, but it is based on cash back instead of points. You’ll earn 2% back on every dollar you charge on up to $50,000 worth of purchases each year. After you pass that limit, you’ll earn 1% cash back on the dollars you charge for the rest of the year.

Redeeming rewards

Redeeming the rewards points you earn on the Blue Business Plus card is simple. First, log in to your American Express account and check how many Membership Rewards points you’ve earned. You can then exchange these points for a host of awards, including gift cards, merchandise and events. You can use your points, too, to pay down the balance of your credit card.

You can also transfer your points to frequent flyer or hotel guest programs, which can help you earn free airline miles or hotel stays.

Redeeming your cash back earnings through the Blue Business Cash card is even easier. Log in to your account to see how much cash back you’ve generated. When you’re ready to use that bonus, American Express will send you the cash back you’ve earned in the form of a statement credit.

Annual fees

Both the Blue Business Cash and Blue Business Plus cards charge no annual fees.

Perks

These small-business cards both come with many of the same perks that you’d expect from an American Express credit card. The most valuable might be the long interest-free period on purchases. Both cards offer 0% interest on purchases for 12 months. After that, the cards’ variable APR of 13.24% to 19.24%, depending on your credit, kicks in.

Other perks are also offered by both cards.

Expanded buying power

This perk allows you to spend beyond your credit limit, a benefit if you need to spend more on your business during certain months. How much more you can spend depends on your payment history, credit record and financial resources.

Employee cards

You can order extra cards for your employees. These cards, too, come with no annual fee, and you can set different credit limits for each of your employees. You’ll earn cash back or points on the purchases your employees make with their cards.

Extended warranty

You can extend the original warranty on purchases by up to one additional year. This is only good for warranties of five years or less.

Purchase protection

This provides financial protection if an item you purchased is stolen or accidentally damaged. You must file for this protection within 90 days of buying your item. Purchase protection is limited to $1,000 for each occurrence and $50,000 for a calendar year.

Car rental loss and damage insurance

With this perk, you’ll be covered for any damage to or theft of a rental vehicle when you use your card to reserve and pay for the entire rental. You must also decline the collision damage waiver offered by your car rental company.

Global assist hotline

This perk is valuable when you are traveling. If you lose your passport, suffer a sudden illness, need a translator or lose your luggage, you can call this hotline to get assistance from American Express. You must be more than 100 miles from your home to use this perk.

American Express Blue Business Plus: Best for travelers

The Blue Business Plus card is a good choice for business owners who travel frequently. That’s because cardholders can transfer their rewards points to American Express partners to earn free airline miles and hotel stays. And cardholders who use their cards frequently can rack up rewards points quickly.

American Express Blue Business Cash: Best for cash flow

Perhaps cash flow is your biggest concern as a business owner. If so, the Blue Business Cash card might be the better choice. The cash back you’ll receive as statement credits will automatically reduce your credit card bill. This can help boost your business’s cash flow. If you charge a lot, you can earn plenty of cash back and apply it right back to your statement.

Bottom line

Both the Blue Business Plus and Blue Business Cash cards are solid choices. Which card is right for you comes down to how you like to receive your rewards. If you like the flexibility of using rewards points for everything from hotel stays and airline miles to gift cards, the Business Plus card might be the better choice. If you prefer the simplicity of cash back bonuses that reduce your card balance, the Business Cash card should be your choice.