The Business Platinum Card from American Express overview
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best business rewards cards around, thanks to its large welcome bonus and the sheer number of value-added perks. While it requires some work to take full advantage of them, the effort can pay off, with savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
With premium cards at the forefront of the credit card market, many people are comfortable paying annual fees of over $400.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is Amex’s top business card offering. The card was just refreshed, adding new statement credits and benefits and improving its bonus category earning rates. Plus, for those interested in limited-edition card designs, there’s a new mirror card design that could give the Centurion Card from American Express a run for its money.
The information for the Centurion Card from American Express has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
However, the card did see a 29% annual fee increase to $895 per year (see rates and fees). Current cardmembers will see it take effect Dec. 2, 2025.
While the higher annual fee could be tough to stomach, the card’s annual statement credits and benefits go above and beyond and can help to offset that yearly cost.
That said, this card certainly won’t be suitable for every small business — especially ones that don’t travel frequently or ones with primary spending areas not covered by this card’s bonus categories.
We recommend applicants have a good to excellent credit score to increase their chances of getting approved.
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Let’s dive into the card details so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your business.
Related: How to get a business credit card
Amex Business Platinum pros and cons
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**Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Amex Business Platinum welcome offer
Right now, for a limited time, new Amex Business Platinum applicants can earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 within the first three months of card membership.
TPG’s September 2025 valuations peg the Membership Rewards points this card earns at 2 cents apiece. So, if you can manage this offer’s high spending requirement, you’ll receive $4,000 in value.
This is the highest public welcome offer we’ve seen on this card, making now a great time to apply if you’ve been considering this card.
It’s important to note that Amex has application restriction rules, including a once-in-a-lifetime rule. If you have or have held this card in the past, you may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer.
While $20,000 in three months might not be hard for businesses with a lot of cash flow, if your enterprise is smaller, you could consider prepaying as many expenses as you can afford during your first three months to help earn your welcome offer.
A few years ago, I met the minimum spending requirement by paying my taxes and covering some home improvement expenses for family members that I was later reimbursed for.
On the other hand, if this type of spending is out of your league, another business card with a lower bonus threshold, a smaller annual fee and more targeted earning categories might be a better fit for you in the long run.
Amex Business Platinum benefits
The Amex Business Platinum has several statement credits easily totaling over $3,500 in annual value. These can help cardmembers potentially offset the initial shock of that high annual fee.
Here’s a close look at all of them (enrollment is required for select benefits).
Statement credits
| Statement credit | Annual amount | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel | Up to $600 per calendar year | A statement credit of up to $300 semiannually from January to June and July to December on prepaid American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel when you pay with your Amex Business Platinum (Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimum) |
| Dell | Up to $150 per calendar year, plus an additional $1,000 in statement credits after meeting a spending requirement per calendar year | Up to $150 in statement credits on U.S. purchases made directly at Dell and an additional $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 or more with Dell each calendar year |
| Indeed | Up to $360 per calendar year | Up to $90 per quarter in statement credits |
| Adobe | $250 per calendar year | $250 statement credit after spending $600 or more on U.S. purchases made directly at Adobe each calendar year (subject to auto-renewal) |
| Hilton | Up to $200 per calendar year | A statement credit of up to $50 per quarter on eligible purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio (Hilton for Business program membership is required) |
| Wireless telephone services | Up to $120 per calendar year | Statement credits for purchases made directly from any U.S. wireless telephone provider (up to $10 per month) |
| Clear Plus | Up to $209 per calendar year | A statement credit toward an annual Clear Plus membership for expedited airport security (subject to auto-renewal) |
| Airline fee | Up to $200 per calendar year | An annual airline fee credit of up to $200 for charges by the airline you select each calendar year |
| Global Entry or TSA PreCheck | Up to $120 | A statement credit for Global Entry ($120) every four years or TSA PreCheck (up to $85) every 4½ years |
| Amex Travel flights and One AP | Up to $1,200 in flight credits and up to $2,400 in One AP credits | $1,200 in Amex Travel flight statement credits and $2,400 in One AP statement credits (valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the calendar year after meeting the requirement), both after spending $250,000 or more on eligible purchases (spending on your card this year counts toward the requirement) |
Lounge access
Along with the plethora of statement credits you may (or may not) be able to use, the Amex Business Platinum shines through with its other travel perks.
Aside from offering access to Amex’s Centurion Lounges, your card will open the door to the extensive American Express Global Lounge Collection (access is limited to eligible cardmembers). It is composed of more than 1,700 lounges worldwide, including Delta Sky Clubs, which you can enter when you have an eligible same-day flight on that airline, Priority Pass locations (enrollment is required; restaurant locations are excluded), Escape lounges and Lufthansa lounges when you have a same-day flight on Lufthansa.
However, it’s worth noting that you’re limited to 10 total Delta Sky Club visits per year — unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year to unlock unlimited access.
Hotel and car rental status
As for benefits that come in handy once you reach your destination, this card allows you to register for complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, which provide higher earnings and elevated benefits during stays with these two brands.
You can also now enroll for Leaders Club Sterling status from The Leading Hotels of the World. LHW is a collection of independent hotels across the globe. With status, you’ll receive benefits like upgrades and the ability to earn points.
Cardmembers also enjoy complimentary elite car rental status with multiple programs, including Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and National Emerald Club. Enrollment may be required.
Shopping protections
As you might imagine, the Amex Business Platinum Card is also great for business purchases. It features extended warranty protection‡ that prolongs eligible U.S. manufacturer warranties of five years or less by an additional year, saving business owners time and money if something happens to an item they buy.
Additionally, the card’s purchase protection‡ covers accidental damage or theft for up to 90 days after purchase (up to $10,000 per covered purchase and $50,000 per cardmember account per calendar year), so it’s a great choice for expensive items.
Other notable benefits
The card’s other standout perks include:
My thoughts on these benefits
This refresh didn’t add much to the benefits side aside from the new $600 hotel credit (up to $300 back in statement credits semiannually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel®), which matches the one found on The Platinum Card® from American Express. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
The American Express Travel flight credit and the Amex One AP credit are nice if you can organically reach the spending requirement, but they shouldn’t be a needle mover for most.
I struggle to use most of the credits on this card and would have preferred some more general credits. The new Leaders Club Sterling status is a welcome addition, but I doubt I will gain any real value from it since I rarely stay at independent hotels. These new additions, to me, don’t justify the $200 annual fee increase.
‡Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
§Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Related: Is the Amex Business Platinum worth the annual fee?
Earning points on the Amex Business Platinum
Amex Business Platinum Card holders will earn:
- 5 points per dollar spent on airfare and prepaid hotel purchases with American Express Travel (10% return, based on TPG’s valuations)
- 2 points per dollar spent on up to $2 million in eligible purchases in the U.S. per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar thereafter) in the following categories: eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, U.S. cloud service providers, U.S. construction materials and hardware supplies, U.S. electronic goods retailers, U.S. shipping providers and U.S. software^ (4% return)
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases (2% return)
^Previously, cardmembers used to earn 1.5 points per dollar spent.
As a cardmember, I’m disappointed this refresh didn’t expand earning rates on the flights and hotels category. Only earning 5 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel is a bit too restrictive for my liking.
I’d prefer the option to choose how I book, especially when cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) offer elevated earnings on hotels and flights booked directly.
The earning rates make it tough to justify keeping this card year after year, even with all the statement credits, as I essentially just use it as a coupon book and for lounge access.
Related: Amex Business Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business: Which premium business card takes the crown?
Redeeming points on the Amex Business Platinum
We recommend transferring your Membership Rewards points to any of Amex’s hotel and airline partners for maximum value.
You can also redeem your points for merchant gift cards or to cover charges on your bill. However, these options significantly devalue your rewards to 1 cent per point or less, so we don’t recommend using your points this way.
The easiest redemption option that still offers decent value is Amex Travel’s Pay with Points feature. Like I mentioned before, having this card allows you to receive a 35% bonus when you use points toward any cabin flight on your designated airline.
This boosts your redemption value for these purchases from 1 cent to 1.54 cents per point.
Just note that the 35% bonus is capped at 1 million points back per calendar year, and you must have the full number of points for the standard redemption in your account at the time of booking. Any points you’re getting back with this benefit will arrive within two billing cycles.
Transferring points on the Amex Business Platinum
You can unlock even more value from your earnings by transferring your Membership Rewards points to any of Amex’s 20 airline or hotel partners. Most transfers occur at a ratio of 1:1 and are processed instantly.
Going this route may require some research, but a little work can help increase the value of your points significantly above our valuations.
You’ll also want to watch for Amex’s regular transfer bonuses, which can further increase the value of your points.
I frequently receive outsize value by transferring points to Air Canada Aeroplan to book lie-flat seats on Star Alliance partners, such as United Polaris business-class flights to Europe. I also like to transfer points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to take advantage of the program’s frequent award promo sales.
Related: Best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points, from business-class flights to Europe to budget-friendly hotel stays
Which cards compete with the Amex Business Platinum?
If you feel that your business might not be able to get the full value out of the Business Platinum, you might want to consider other options:
- If you want a lower annual fee and higher earning rates: The American Express® Business Gold Card offers similar redemption options to the Business Platinum but for a lower annual fee of $375 (see rates and fees). It’s a good choice if you have a wide variety of business expenses, as it adjusts to your top two spending categories each billing cycle. To learn more, please read our full review of the Amex Business Gold.
- If you don’t want business-specific benefits: The Amex Platinum Card is the personal version of this card. You’ll still earn valuable Membership Rewards points, receive significant value in annual statement credits and gain access to the same extensive network of airport lounges worldwide. To learn more, please read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
- If you want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points: The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business has a slightly lower annual fee of $795. It’s a good choice if you like the sound of a flexible $300 annual travel credit and spend a lot on advertising, as well as flights and hotels booked directly. To learn more, please read our full review of the Sapphire Reserve for Business.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best business credit cards.
Read more: Amex Business Gold vs. Amex Business Platinum: Battle of the premium small-business cards from American Express
Bottom line
Despite a recent refresh with a new higher annual fee, the Amex Business Platinum Card is still an excellent choice for business travelers who spend a lot in its bonus categories and with the merchants covered by its statement credits.
While it might not be worth it for all business owners, its travel perks are hard to beat for the right cardmember.
Apply here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, click here.