The Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express offers 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After that, your APR will be a variable rate of 14.99%, 17.99%, or 20.99% (See Rates & Fees).
With this card, you can earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. It appeals to businesses with more expenses where more cash back rewards can be earned. Experience fantastic exclusive American Express benefits and no annual fee.
Editor’s Note: You may not know this, but if you ever sell something on eBay, Craigslist, or do any freelance work, your business is called sole proprietorship. Simply use your name as business ID and Social Security number as tax ID on your application to apply.
Table of Contents
- 1 Blue Business Cash Card from American Express
- 2 Earning The Blue Business Cash Card Rewards
- 3 Redeeming The Blue Business Cash Card Rewards
- 4 The Blue Business Cash Card Expanded Buying Power
- 5 Why You Should Apply
- 6 Blue Business Cash Card from American Express Business Benefits
- 7 Maximizing Rewards
- 8 American Express or Visa?
- 9 Business Tools & Benefits
- 10 Editor’s Alternative Pick
- 11 Bottom Line
- 12 What’s the Competition?
Blue Business Cash Card from American Express
 |
| Bonus Available | No welcome bonus. |
| Ongoing Rewards/Benefits | 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, on up to $50,000 spent per year. |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | 2.7% |
| Balance Transfer Fees | Either $5 or 3% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater. |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
Recommended Free Credit Score (Get Free Score) 690 – 850 (Good – Excellent)
PROS
- No annual fee
- Cash back rewards
- Flexible credit limit
CONS
- No welcome bonus
- Good-Excellent credit needed to qualify
- Foreign transaction fees
Earning The Blue Business Cash Card Rewards
Earning the Blue Business Cash card’s rewards are simple and straight foward. Earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 you spend on eligible purchases each calendar year. Once you cross that threshold, you will earn unlimited 1% cash back.
Redeeming The Blue Business Cash Card Rewards
The rewards that you earn on your Blue Business Cash card are automatically applied as statement credits to your card account at the end of each billing cycle.
The Blue Business Cash Card Expanded Buying Power
Like the Blue Business Plus card, the Blue Business Cash lets you go beyond your credit limit. This means you can make big business purchases at no extra cost and earn points for these purchases.
How do you spend beyond our card limit? Check out these factors:
- Your use of the Blue Business Cash card,
- Your payment history,
- Your credit record, and
- Your financial resources.
If you spend above your limit, you will have to pay the difference with the minimum payment due that billing period. If you do not pay the full amount, you will receive a penalty APR, which negates any rewards you earn on your big purchase.
Why You Should Apply
Special 0% APR Introductory Offer: Save on interest with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; after that your APR will be a variable rate of 14.99%, 17.99%, or 20.99%.
Earn Cash Back: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
No Annual Fee: Get all the cash back rewards and everything this card has to offer with no annual fee.
Blue Business Cash Card from American Express Business Benefits
- OPEN Savings: Enjoy this business benefit to receive 5% discount with participating partners like FedEx, Hertz, HP, 1-800-Flowers, and Barnes & Noble. Take advantage of this benefit to save as much as 8% when combined with the Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express and choosing shipping as your 3% cash back rewards category. Restrictions apply with each partner.
- OPEN Forum: Get support, insight, advice and the latest in business news and research.
- More Business Benefits: ReceiptMatch also allows you to quickly and easily manage your expenses. Experience built-in features that will add receipts, tags and notes to each transaction. Add employee cards at no extra cost with the ability to set spending limits on each and still earn cash back with each purchase.
- Purchase Benefits: Purchases made with your card will get purchase protection and extended warranty.
- Amex Offers: Enjoy special discount offers with retailers and businesses by spending a set amount for statement credit or points back.
- Travel Benefits: Get travel accident insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance, and roadside assistance. There is a foreign transaction fee with this card, so use another card when making purchases outside the U.S.
Maximizing Rewards
With the Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express, it’s easy to maximize your rewards in one way.
Your cash back will be automatically applied as statement credit to your statement each month. That means you don’t have to worry about logging into your account, redeeming your rewards every month, going through the hassle of transferring your points into actual cash, or anything else of that sort.
If you want to see how much you’ve saved each month with your cash back, read your monthly statements or log in to your American Express account online.
American Express or Visa?
Here’s how the Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express stacks up against the Chase Ink Business CashSM Card, a Visa credit card also aimed to appeal small business owners.
With the Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express, you'll earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement. From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power§.Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors. This card comes with no annual fee (See Rates & Fees). |
 The Chase Ink Business CashSM Card offers $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, & % cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. This card comes with no annual fee. You'll be able to take advantage of employee cards at no additional cost & the 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases. |
If you have significant internet, cable, or landline phone expenses, the Ink Business Cash is the better small business credit card for you.
In addition, most vendors accept Visa cards, as opposed to American Express cards, especially if you deal with vendors outside of the States. However, if you plan to deal with merchants who accept American Express cards, the Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express would best benefit you in the long run.
Business Tools & Benefits
Experience business management benefits and tools that can streamline your finances and help with overall business practices.
- OPEN Forum – Get support, insight, advice, and the latest in business news and research with OPEN Forum. Get help from other business owners and experts. Find answers on business topics that include staff management tips, business growth, and marketing.
- ReceiptMatch – Quickly and easily manage your expenses. Enjoy built-in features that will add receipts and tags and notes to each transaction.
- Additional Employee Cards – Get additional employee cards at no extra cost. When employees use their card on purchases, you will earn cash back rewards towards your account. You can also adjust employee card limits to closely monitor spending.
- Purchase and Travel Benefits – Get purchase protection and extended warranty with purchases made on the card. Travel benefits that come with the card include travel accident insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance, and roadside assistance. However, use another card when making purchases outside the U.S. since there is a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.
- AmEx Offers – Enjoy special discount offers by spending a set amount for statement credit back.
Editor’s Alternative Pick
The Chase Ink Business CashSM Card offers $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, & % cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. This card comes with no annual fee. You'll be able to take advantage of employee cards at no additional cost & the 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases. |
Bottom Line
The Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express has plenty of great benefits for a business owner. It also offers extra bonus category options and bigger spending limits which means more potential for cash back rewards.
The welcome offer helps you make big purchases and pay it off gradually without incurring extra interest.
With no annual fees, you can be certain that you’re both earning and saving thanks to these intro perks. Plus, your business’s cash flow will thank you. No matter what you spend on, if you do it with this card, you’re earning money back for your business.
However, I wouldn’t recommend this card for companies who do a lot of your business spending abroad and want to dodge foreign transaction fees. Consider checking out our full list of Credit Card Bonuses.
(Visit American Express for more details)
What’s the Competition?
 The Ink Business UnlimitedSM Credit Card offers $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business and you'll receive employee cards at no additional cost. This card carries no annual fee and you'll have the opportunity to take advantage of a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases |
 The Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business offers a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You can earn 1.5 miles per $1 on every purchase. Your miles won't expire for the life of the account, and there are no categories to limit where or what you buy. There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fees to worry about making this card a viable option for business travel. |
 The Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business offers a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You'll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back could mean thousands of dollars each year going back into your business with no categories to limit your purchasing. This card comes with no annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost. |
| PROMOTIONAL LINK | OFFER | REVIEW |
| Chase Total Business Checking® | $200 Cash | Review |
| Chase Premier Plus CheckingSM | $300 Cash | Review |
| Chase Total Checking® + Chase SavingsSM | $350 Cash | Review |
| Simple High-Yield Checking | $500 Cash | Review |
| Discover Bank Online Savings | $200 Cash | Review |
| Chase College CheckingSM | $100 Cash | Review |
| You InvestSM by J.P. Morgan | $625 Cash | Review |
| TD Bank Beyond Checking | $300 Cash | Review |
| TD Bank Convenience CheckingSM | $150 Cash | Review |
| Discover Cashback Debit Account | $360 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Unlimited Plus Business Checking | $750 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Unlimited Business Checking | $400 Cash | Review |
| Huntington Bank Business Checking 100 | $200 Cash | Review |
| UFB Direct High Yield Savings | 2.15% APY | Review |
| CIT Bank Savings Builder | 2.10% APY | Review |
| Betterment Everyday Savings | 2.04% APY | Review |
| E*TRADE | $2,500 Cash | Review |
| Ally Invest | $3,500 Cash | Review |
| TD Ameritrade | $600 Cash | Review |
While American Express is an advertising partner of HustlerMoneyBlog, the opinions and beliefs in this article are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express, please click here.
If you already have the Simply Cash Card (prior version) and apply and get approved for this one, do I still get the bonus? I know Amex has that “once per lifetime” rule now. just asking as I do not want to burn an inquiry for nothing 🙂
This is a different card. Not the regular SimplyCash.
This card should probably be updated because the description is misleading. I was actually misinformed when I opened this card up about the 5% and the 3% Categories.
Bear with me on this it sounds like I am stating the obvious for a while but i do it in order to avoid any confusion.
Office supply stores count as a category (5% to be specific)
U.S. Cell Phone Services is also a category (also 5%)
These are 2 separate categories each with their own 50,000$ cap.
so if you took the limit for Office supplies stores and added it to the limit for U.S Cellular, you would have 100,000$.
Additionally,
the 3% category you choose is a separate category with its own 50,000$ limit.
so if you combined the limits for all three, you would have 150,000$ in total.
Now I need to state that NO, you can NOT actually combine the limits, but I merely said that to make my point about how the limits work (aka per category).
So… for people like me who know they will use 50,000$ of office supplies in a year on this card, but have a cell phone bill they would like to use this on or want to use the 3% on restaurants or what not, but don’t because they were mislead by agents that said the 5% and the 3% are combined in a 50,000$ limit, they can feel free to use this card for those bills because one category’s spending does not affect another. You get 50,000$ per each category per calendar year.
I found this out today after speaking with a supervisor that worked there 27 years and was actually telling me about the history of the simply cash card, how long it has been around and how much it has changed over the years which was really cool. I love when I come across something like that.