American Express Business Gold Rewards Card Review
Pros
- Earn up to 2 points per dollar on purchases
- 30,000 welcome bonus points upon reaching minimum spend requirement
- No preset spending limit
- Access to extensive American Express Membership Rewards program
- Comprehensive travel insurance benefits
- Expense categories automatically tracked for easy account management
- Ability to add supplementary cards for employee use
Cons
- Annual fee of $250
- American Express not accepted everywhere
- No introductory interest rate or balance transfer promotions
- Requires strong credit history and credit score to qualify
- Not ideal for businesses with low expenses or infrequent travel
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Performance test results
At DollarWise, for each credit card we test 7 different factors including the rewards, value for money, perks, insurance, strengths and weaknesses of the card.
You can see our full testing methodology here to learn why we’re the most trusted source for credit card reviews.
The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card has earned a 4.20 DollarWise Rating out of 5. This score is based on a weighted average of the two highest scoring factors (excluding acceptance and approval).
3.5
Rewards
0.6
Fees
3.2
Perks
1.5
Interest rates
4.5
Insurance
4.0
Acceptance
3.0
Approval
The highest scoring categories for the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card are insurance and rewards.
These factors are weighted 70% to the highest scoring factor and 30% to the second highest score to get an overall review score.
This weighting allows us to judge cards on their merits and the customers they are designed for.
For the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card the most important factors for scoring this card are its insurance and rewards.
Rewards
With the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card, here’s the rates at which you earn rewards for different spending categories per dollar you spend:
| Bills | 1 point |
| Pharmacy | 1 point |
| Gas | 1 point |
| Groceries | 1 point |
| Restaurants | 1 point |
| Specific Stores | 1 point |
| Travel | 1 point |
| All Other Spend | 1 point |
Calculating your annual rewards
We estimate that spending $2,000 per month with the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card would earn $480 in rewards over the year.
Our performance testing research uses an accurate estimation of the average Canadian households spending patterns to predict the rewards a card will earn.
We found that you’d earn this per category:
| All Other Spend | $480 |
Our study investigating the value found that each dollar spent on the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card is worth up to $0.02, depending on how you redeem.
This $480 in rewards value puts the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card in the top 30% of credit cards in Canada based on rewards earned.
The average credit card in our database earns $337 in rewards for the same spend that the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card earns $480 in rewards value.
We can compare this card to other options by looking at the earn rate by category.
This earn rate is the percentage return that you would get when you spend on this card, assuming you redeem at the predicted maximum value.
For example, if a card earned 5 points per dollar on gas and each point is worth up to $0.02, then the earn rate is 5 points multiplied by $0.02 each, divided by the dollar you spent.
In this example, that’s a 10% earn rate on gas.
| Spend | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bills | 2.00% | 1.25% |
| Pharmacy | 2.00% | 1.17% |
| Gas | 2.00% | 1.48% |
| Groceries | 2.00% | 1.71% |
| Restaurant | 2.00% | 1.53% |
| Store | 2.00% | 1.94% |
| Travel | 2.00% | 1.19% |
| Other | 2.00% | 1.08% |
| Redemption method | Annual rewards |
|---|---|
| Transfer to partner airlines | $480 |
| Fixed points travel | $420 |
| Transfer to partner hotels | $278 |
| Redeem for travel | $240 |
| Apply to statement credit | $240 |
| Ticketmaster | $240 |
| Charity | $240 |
| Gift cards | $185 |
| Amazon.ca | $168 |
| Merchandise | $163 |
For an annual spend of $24,000, we estimated annual rewards value at up to $480.
That’s equivalent to a 2.00% return on spending.
The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card has an annual fee of $199. After deducting this, we predicted net annual rewards of $281.
This puts it in the top 50% of credit cards for net rewards after fees.
In comparison, the average card earns net annual rewards of $254.
Fees
The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card has a $199 annual fee.
The average card charges $85. So, the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card is in the top 10% of cards based on the cost of the annual fee.
Perks
We manually review the perks of each credit card to determine how they compare to other cards.
The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card scored a 3.2 out of 5 for perks, putting it in the top 10% of cards.
The average card scores 1.6 out of 5 for perks.
Interest Rates
| Purchase | N/A% |
| Cash Advance | N/A% |
| Balance Transfer | N/A% |
The average (median) credit card has a purchase interest rate of 19.99% and so the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card charges 19.99% less than the average.
For cash advances it costs N/A% compared to the average of 19.96%.
Testing the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card with a $2,000 starting balance, you can see in the graph how the 19.99% less in interest rates impacts the interest over a year, compared to the average card.
Insurance coverage
| Insurance | This Card | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $100,000 | $500,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 | $1,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes | No |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 | $1,000 |
| Mobile Phone Insurance | $1,000 | $1,000 |
We scored it 4.5 out of 5 for insurance.
It offers 9 types of insurance, whereas the average card has 5 types of coverage.
Approval and qualifying
| Do I qualify? | |
|---|---|
| Estimated Credit Score | 660 – 724 |
| Personal Income | $0 |
| Household Income | $0 |
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $199 |
| Extra Card Fee | $0 |
| Card type | AMEX |
We scored it 3.0 out of 5 for approval.
We predict that you will require a credit score of at least 660 to qualify for the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card, while the average card requires 652 to qualify.
This puts it in the top bottom 50% of cards by approval difficulty.
The personal income requirements are $0, while the average card requires $23,896.
This puts it in the top 50% of cards by the income required to qualify.
The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card is designed for business owners who want to maximize their earnings potential while enjoying valuable benefits and perks. In this review, we’ll outline the earning potential, benefits, and drawbacks of the card, as well as any additional information you should consider.
Earning potential
The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card offers substantial rewards on various spending categories. Cardholders earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every $1 spent on all eligible purchases.
Additionally, the card offers 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases (e.g., flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.). Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for a variety of travel, merchandise, and gift card options, allowing businesses to tailor their rewards experience to their unique needs.
Benefits
- Customizable Rewards: The first major advantage of this card is its customizable rewards earning system. Cardholders can choose one category (e.g., dining, travel, gas, or office supplies) where they earn an additional 1 point per $1 spent, making it easier to optimize rewards based on their specific business expenses.
- Exclusive Discounts and Promotions: Another significant advantage is the opportunity to save on business expenses through the American Express Business Savings Program.
This program offers exclusive discounts and promotions from select merchants, potentially reducing costs for eligible items like travel, dining, and office supplies. - Premium Travel Options: The card provides premium travel benefits for cardholders. These perks include travel insurance coverage for unexpected incidents, access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, and the ability to transfer points to various frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs.
- Membership Rewards: This card also has an attractive welcome offer for new cardholders – typically a substantial bonus of Membership Rewards points after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months of card membership.
This bonus provides a substantial headstart for new cardmembers interested in redeeming points for travel or other rewards.
Drawbacks
- Annual Fee: One significant drawback of the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card is its annual fee. While many business credit cards offer competitive rewards without an annual fee, this card charges a relatively high fee which may deter those looking for a more cost-effective solution.
- Limited Acceptance: Another drawback is the limited acceptance of American Express cards compared to Visa or Mastercard. Some merchants may not accept American Express as a form of payment, potentially limiting card usage and the earning potential of Membership Rewards points.
Additional information
Despite these drawbacks, the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for business owners looking to maximize their rewards potential while enjoying premium benefits.
Cardholders can leverage the flexible points program, exclusive discounts, and attractive welcome offers to offset the annual fee if they take advantage of the card’s features.
It’s essential to consider individual business expenses and needs when evaluating the best credit card option for your specific situation.
Not the right fit? You could consider the RBC Visa Business Card. Or, if you’re looking for other options check out the Visa Desjardins Business Card, and the Scotia Momentum for Business Visa Credit Card.
FAQ
Key benefits
- Flexible rewards redemption for travel, merchandise, or statement credits
- No blackout dates or seat restrictions on travel using points
- Earn 1 point per dollar on all purchases, with 1 additional point on select business categories (Office Supplies, Shipping, Tech)
- Custom account alerts for late payments, irregular transactions, or overspend tracking
- Hotel and car rental discounts with partner companies
- 0% fraud liability protection and 24/7 account monitoring for security
- Emergency card replacement and cash access worldwide
- Free year-end summary for simplified tax preparation and expense management
- Access to American Express Global Lounge Collection (enrollment required)
- Eligibility for exclusive offers and event access via Amex Experiences
- Online and mobile app tools for account management and tracking
