🏠 Credit Cards» Amex Business Credit Cards Compared
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Amex Business Credit Cards Compared
Amex business cards split into charge cards (full balance due monthly) and credit cards (balance can be carried). Most buyers don’t realise this distinction until after they apply.
Fees and rates verified March 2026 where available from public sources.
Across the Amex business range, the charge card vs credit card distinction matters more than the rewards difference. We checked all five cards: Gold and Platinum force full monthly payment; BA Accelerating and Amazon let you carry a balance.
Business Basic sits in between with a flexible payment option. Your supplier mix and cash flow decide which structure works.
Every Amex business card needs a personal guarantee from the director or LLP member, so you are personally liable if the business cannot clear the balance.
Charge Cards vs Credit Cards in the Amex Range
Gold and Platinum are charge cards: you must pay the full balance each month with no minimum-payment option or carry-over flexibility. Interest doesn’t apply because you’re expected to clear in full. We verified this against americanexpress.com/uk.
If you run a seasonal business (a landscaping firm billing £15k in summer and £3k in January) a charge card forces full clearance when cash is tightest. You need credit-card flexibility to survive the low months.
BA Accelerating and Amazon let you carry a balance and pay interest monthly if you choose. If your cash flow varies, credit card flexibility is essential.
If you want an Amex card with no annual fee and occasional payment flexibility, Business Basic is the option: it now offers “Pay Over Time” on eligible purchases, at the same 29.1% variable rate as Gold and Platinum. It earns no Membership Rewards points.
Pay Over Time is also available on Gold and Platinum at 29.1% variable APR, limited to the card’s Flexible Payment Option (FPO) credit line. Minimum monthly payment is the higher of £50 or the FPO balance. Use it as a short-term buffer, not a financing strategy.
Which Amex Card?
Which Amex Card?
Your Situation
Best Fit
High spend, clear monthly, want flexible rewards
Business Gold
Frequent business travel, high spend, want lounge access
Business Platinum
New to Amex, want lower fee commitment or occasional flexibility
Business Basic
Fly British Airways regularly
BA Amex Accelerating
High Amazon Business spend
Amazon Amex
Verified 21 April 2026.
Card-by-card detail
Best for Membership Rewards points
American Express Business Gold Card
The most popular Amex business card for a reason: 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 on all spend, with flexible redemption across airlines and hotels.
Best for: Heavy Amazon Business buyers wanting cashback on that spend
Watch out: Rewards are Amazon-specific. Diversified spend earns more on Gold or Platinum.
Not ideal if: Low Amazon spend or you want rewards redeemable elsewhere
Annual Fee£50/yr (free yr 1 if £8k+ spend)
Amazon Cashback1.5–2% on Amazon (0.5% elsewhere)
Representative APR37.6% variable
Existing AccountAmazon Business account required
Eligibility: Sole traders, partnerships, LTDs, LLPs. Amazon Business account required.
Not ideal if: Low Amazon spend or you want rewards redeemable elsewhere
Watch out: Rewards are Amazon-specific. Diversified spend earns more on Gold or Platinum.
1.5% cashback on Amazon purchases (2% for Prime members), or choose 60-day extended payment terms instead, verified against americanexpress.com/uk
0.5% cashback on all other card spend
No existing bank account required, sole traders, partnerships, LTDs, and LLPs all eligible
Annual fee waived in year 1 if £8,000+ is spent on the card
Amazon Business account required before applying, an additional prerequisite
£50 annual fee applies from year 2 if spend falls below £8,000 in year 1
0.5% on non-Amazon spend is among the lowest general-spend rates on any business card
Rewards only make sense if Amazon Business is a primary purchasing channel
1.5%–2% cashback on Amazon purchases, or 60-day payment terms: choose per purchase
0.5% cashback on all other spend
£50/year annual fee (waived year 1 if £8,000+ spend)
Amazon Business account required
Representative APR 37.6% variable
Annual Fee Break-Even: What You Need to Spend
If you’re weighing the £195/year cost, your return depends on what Membership Rewards points are worth to you and how much spend you can put on the card.
You value each Membership Rewards point based on your redemption method: transferred to Avios for short-haul flights it’s roughly 1p; via the Amex shopping portal it’s 0.4–0.5p. We estimate 0.8p for a business traveller using points for travel rather than portal credit.
At £3,000/month spend you earn 36,000 points annually, worth £288 at 0.8p, a net gain of £93 after the fee. At £5,000/month you’re looking at £480 return.
Capital on Tap pays 1% cashback with zero fee: at £3,000/month that’s £360. No fee to subtract. The Gold only overtakes it at upper spend levels, and only when you transfer to Avios rather than taking portal credit.
If you’re comparing Platinum to Gold, Platinum’s £650/year fee is steep: calculate your personal break-even before committing. Check your typical monthly spend, estimate your actual earn rate (varies by category and current promotions), and verify at americanexpress.com/uk.
If you miss a minimum payment, the penalty is £12; if 60 days overdue, Amex suspends the card and charges £95 to reinstate.
On charge cards, suspension means you can’t use the card until it is resolved, so a missed payment can cut off your spending entirely, which the £12 never does.
Can You Earn Enough Points to Justify Two Amex Cards?
Pairing Gold with BA Accelerating isn’t worth it unless monthly spend exceeds £8,000 and you have separate use cases for Membership Rewards and Avios. Two fee-bearing cards double the break-even threshold and split your spend across two programmes. For most businesses, one card maximises return.
What Travel Benefits Does the Platinum Actually Include?
If you’re considering Platinum for its travel perks, Chubb underwrites the insurance: £2m medical, £7,500 cancellation, £2,000 baggage (£500 per item, £50 excess), and 120-day per-trip limit. No cover for cardholders aged 80+.
You’ll want to check Chubb’s full policy document for exclusions before making this your only travel cover. The limits are reasonable for most business travel but not universal.
If you travel with colleagues, Priority Pass covers two cardholders (main and one supplementary) plus one guest each. Amex pre-books UK airport lounges for free, removing walk-up queue risk at busy terminals.
Does the First-Year Fee Waiver Change the Calculation?
Yes, but it can also trap you. The £0 first year is a genuine saving, and at £1,500–£2,500/month spend you’ll earn a reasonable return in year one.
The risk: you commit to the card, set up supplier payments around it, and face the £195 fee in year two when your actual return doesn’t justify it. Run the break-even calculation at the post-waiver fee before you apply, not after.
The Amex Acceptance Problem
If you’re counting on Amex, check acceptance first: it has improved in the UK but isn’t universal. Major supermarkets, online retailers, and large suppliers usually take it.
Smaller businesses, some professional services firms, and trade suppliers don’t.
Before applying, we recommend running a 15-minute supplier audit: pull your last three months of statements, identify your top ten suppliers by spend, and ask each whether they accept American Express.
If more than three of your top ten say no, a meaningful share of your card spend won’t earn Amex rewards.
Discover the gap after the first-year fee waiver ends and you’re paying £195 for a card your most important suppliers won’t take.
You’ll need a Visa or Mastercard alongside Amex if acceptance doesn’t work, which loses the consolidation benefit. See our full business credit card comparison for Visa and Mastercard options.
For charge card holders this matters most: without balance-carry flexibility, you need consistent Amex spend to justify the fee. Below £2,500/month, a no-fee Visa with 1% cashback (like Capital on Tap) gives better net return with no acceptance friction.
If Amex Doesn’t Work
Visa acceptance, high limits
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card
Solves the Amex acceptance problem: Visa, higher credit limits, no bank account required.
Best for: Limited companies whose suppliers don’t accept Amex
Watch out: Limited companies and LLPs only. Sole traders can’t apply.
Not ideal if: You’re a sole trader, or Amex acceptance works for your suppliers
Floor APRFrom 13.86% variable
Representative APR34.9% variable
Annual Fee£0 (free card) / £299 (Pro card)
Existing AccountNo bank switch required
Eligibility: UK limited companies and LLPs only. No bank account required.
Not ideal if: You’re a sole trader, or Amex acceptance works for your suppliers
Watch out: Limited companies and LLPs only. Sole traders can’t apply.
Credit limits up to £250,000
No need to switch banks or providers
1% cashback on all spend, or convert points to Avios at 10 points to 8 Avios
Points also convert to Virgin Points at 10 to 8
No FX fees on overseas purchases
Instant virtual card on approval
No annual fee (free tier)
The 13.86% floor is the published minimum, not your likely rate; the representative APR is 34.9% and your rate is priced individually and shown during the application
Sole traders excluded, limited companies, LLPs and PLCs only
Pro card carries £299/year annual fee
Avios conversion is a manual step in the Rewards area, not automatic
Best for: Businesses needing Visa acceptance with cashback
Watch out: 25.5% APR. Cashback not transferable to airline programmes.
Not ideal if: You want premium rewards or can handle Amex acceptance
Representative APR25.5% variable
Cashback1% on monthly spend over £2k Uncapped
Annual Fee£0 No annual fee
Existing AccountNo existing account required
Eligibility: Sole traders, partnerships, LTDs. £10k–£6.5m turnover.
Not ideal if: You want premium rewards or can handle Amex acceptance
Watch out: 25.5% APR. Cashback not transferable to airline programmes.
No existing bank account required, open to any business
No annual fee
1% cashback on monthly spend over £2,000 (uncapped)
Available to sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies
25.5% representative APR, highest among traditional bank cards on this list
No cashback on the first £2,000 of monthly spend
No FX fee waiver on overseas purchases
Representative APR 25.5% variable
1% cashback on monthly spend above £2,000 (uncapped)
No annual fee
No existing bank account required
American Express Business Card FAQs
What is the difference between an Amex charge card and a credit card?
A charge card requires you to pay the full balance every month. There is no option to carry debt or pay a minimum. Gold and Platinum are charge cards.
A credit card lets you carry a balance and pay interest. BA Accelerating and Amazon Amex are credit cards. Business Basic now sits between the two: a charge card by default, with a flexible payment option that lets you carry eligible purchases at 29.1% variable.
Which Amex business card is best for Membership Rewards points?
The Business Gold Card. It earns 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 on all spend, with no pre-set spending limit. The Platinum earns at a higher rate on certain categories but costs £650/year, so the Gold is the better starting point unless your monthly spend consistently exceeds £8,000.
Which Amex business card earns Avios?
The BA Amex Accelerating Business Card earns Avios directly, not Membership Rewards. It costs £250/year. If you fly BA regularly and want Avios without converting from another programme, this is the only Amex business card that does it.
Is the Amex Business Gold Card free?
The first year is £0. After that it costs £195/year. Our break-even analysis on this page shows you need roughly £2,500/month in Amex-eligible spend to justify the fee through rewards alone. If your spend is lower, a no-fee card may give you a better net return.
Can sole traders apply for an Amex business card?
Yes. Sole traders are eligible for all five Amex business cards. You apply as an individual with your business details. Amex will run a personal credit check. There is no requirement to be a limited company.
Do Amex business cards let you carry a balance?
Only the credit cards: BA Accelerating, Amazon Amex, and Business Basic (with its flexible payment option). The Gold and Platinum are charge cards: the full balance is due monthly. If cash flow flexibility matters, you need a credit card, not a charge card.
Are Amex business cards widely accepted in the UK?
Acceptance has improved but isn’t universal. Most large retailers, supermarkets, and online merchants accept Amex. Some smaller suppliers, trade businesses, and professional services firms don’t. We recommend checking your top suppliers before committing to an Amex card as your primary business card.
Which Amex business card is best for travel perks?
The Business Platinum Card. It includes airport lounge access, travel insurance, and hotel benefits. However, the £650/year fee is steep. The Gold card also includes travel insurance and airport transfers at £195/year, making it the better choice unless you travel frequently enough to use the Platinum’s lounge access regularly.
Ranking criteria. We ranked providers on cost, eligibility, features, and ease of access. Cost and protection carry the heaviest weight because these factors hold regardless of business type or preferences.
Data sources. Every provider’s pricing page, terms, and product docs were checked directly in April 2026. No comparison sites, no press releases, no affiliate material. FCA register cross-checked for regulatory status.
Update cadence. We re-verify every provider on this page at least monthly, and whenever a provider changes pricing, eligibility, or terms. The verification date on the page reflects the most recent full review. Some links on this page are affiliate links, see our editorial policy.
