7 Things to Know About the Amazon Business American Express Card

As a freelance journalist who has worked in finance for over a decade, I’ve reviewed my fair share of small business credit cards. And one that consistently grabs my attention is the Amazon Business American Express Card.

Offering some enticing rewards and benefits, this card aims to provide significant value to Amazon-loving business owners. However, as with any credit card, there are crucial factors you must consider before applying.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share seven key things to know about the Amazon Business American Express Card based on my personal experience analyzing small business cards. Ranging from rewards perks to account management features, I’ll provide an in-depth look at everything this popular card has to offer.

1. Two Versions Are Available

Unlike most small business credit cards, the Amazon Business American Express Card actually comes in two different versions – the standard Amazon Business American Express Card and the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card.

Both cards provide access to the same account management features and benefits. However, the Prime version offers enhanced rewards for Amazon Business Prime members.

Here’s a quick rundown of the rewards each card offers:

Amazon Business American Express Card

• 3% Back on the first $120,000 in combined eligible purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, and Whole Foods per year, then 1% Back
• 2% Back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. providers
• 1% Back on other purchases

Amazon Business Prime American Express Card

• 5% Back on the first $120,000 in combined eligible purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, and Whole Foods per year, then 1% Back
• 2% Back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. providers
• 1% Back on other purchases

The key difference lies in the enhanced 5% Back rewards rate the Prime version offers on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.

However, to qualify for this perk, you must have an eligible Prime membership. This includes either a personal Prime account, Business Prime account, or Amazon Fresh account linked to your card.

So if you want to maximize rewards on Amazon purchases for your business, the Prime version is likely the better fit. But if you don’t have a Prime membership, the standard card still provides solid earning potential.

Also Read: 7 Things to Know About the American Express® Gold Card

2. No Preset Spending Limit

As a charge card, the Amazon Business American Express Card does not come with a preset spending limit. This gives you flexibility in how much you can charge to the card.

However, American Express does impose two key limits:

The account limit – This refers to the total amount of credit Amex extends based on your creditworthiness and other factors. For instance, if your account limit is $20,000, your total balance cannot exceed this amount.

The single purchase limit – To prevent fraud, Amex also sets a cap on how much you can charge in a single purchase. This limit is typically equal to your account limit.

So while not having a preset spending cap is convenient, you still can’t spend endlessly on the card. American Express imposes sensible limits to prevent reckless spending.

Personally, I appreciate not having to stress about staying under a rigid monthly spending cap. As long as I remain within my account limit, I can use the card freely without getting declined. This perk alone makes it one of my go-to cards for higher-budget business expenses.

3. There’s an Employee Card Option

For businesses with multiple employees, management and oversight are crucial when it comes to company credit cards. The last thing you want is employees recklessly charging the card.

Fortunately, the Amazon Business American Express Card allows you to add up to 99 employee cards to your account. As the main account holder, you maintain control over employee spending.

Some of the management features include:

Spending limits – Set customized monthly spending limits for each employee card. Once the limit is reached, charges will be declined.

Account alerts – Get notified any time an employee card is used so you can monitor spending. Alerts can be sent via text, email, or mobile push notifications.

Transaction details – View detailed statements showing exactly what employees purchased and where. You can also filter purchases by date, amount, employee, and more.

Activity monitoring – Check each employee’s monthly and year-to-date spending totals at a glance to identify high spenders.

Remote closure – Instantly cancel any employee card right within your online account for immediate loss prevention.

As someone who has managed teams using company cards, I find these controls indispensable. They enable me to closely track employee spending and intervene when needed. And the ability to instantly cancel a card prevents abuse.

Overall, the employee card management features help mitigate the risks that come with sharing business credit. It also saves me time reconciling everyone’s charges each month.

4. Valuable Account Management Tools are Included

Managing business spending across multiple credit cards can quickly become chaotic. Fortunately, American Express equips the Amazon Business Card with a robust suite of account management features.

Here are some of the tools that provide invaluable oversight:

Consolidated statements – View charges across all your Amex business cards in one place to simplify reconciliation. Statements can be filtered and downloaded for seamless integration with accounting software.

Spending dashboard – Instantly visualize monthly and year-to-date spending totals across common categories like travel, office supplies, utilities, and more. This makes budget tracking effortless.

Payment flexibility – Set up automatic payments or pay your balance manually. Amex also allows over-limit payments above your current balance, which helps rapidly pay down large purchases.

Purchase details – Review detailed descriptions, vendor names, transaction dates, and amounts for every purchase to simplify expense reporting.

Accounting integration – Sync your card directly with QuickBooks or Bill.com to manage accounts payable and receivable from one platform.

Year-end summary – Access an annual summary of all your business spending at the end of each calendar year to assist with taxes.

Indefinitely I find these tools invaluable. They provide complete visibility and control over my company’s spending and cash flow. The ability to integrate my card with accounting software is a game changer for streamlining back-office financial workflows.

5. There are Useful Bonus Categories

Aside from the generous rewards on Amazon purchases, the card also earns bonus points in two common business spending categories:

2x points at U.S. gas stations

2x points at U.S. restaurants

2x points on U.S. wireless telephone purchases directly from service providers

Gas, dining, and cell phone bills are frequent expenses for most companies. So earning 2 points per dollar in these categories can help your rewards balance grow quickly.

Let’s break down the potential value of these bonus categories:

• Say your business spends $600 per month on gas ($7,200 per year)
• You’d earn 14,400 extra points from the 2x gas category bonus
• With each point worth 1 cent, those 14,400 points are worth $144 in redemption value
• For dining, perhaps your business spends $1,000 per month ($12,000 per year)
• That would mean 24,000 extra points from the 2x restaurant bonus
• At 1 cent per point, those 24,000 points equal $240 in redemptions

And that’s not even factoring in the 5% or 3% Back you’d earn on Amazon purchases. When combined with the bonus categories, this card enables businesses with frequent Amazon and dining expenses to maximize point earnings.

Personally, I put all my company’s gas, restaurant, and cell phone bills on this card to capitalize on the extra points. Over the course of a year, it really adds up.

6. Points Can Be Redeemed for Amazon Purchases or Cash Back

When it comes to redeeming your hard-earned rewards points, the Amazon Business American Express Card offers two flexible options:

Amazon purchases – Points can be applied as a statement credit towards Amazon purchases, essentially functioning as cash back. Each point is worth 1 cent, so 100 points net you $1 in redemption value.

Cash back – You can also redeem points for straight cash back in the form of a statement credit or direct deposit. Again, each point is worth 1 cent.

Personally, I prefer using my points for Amazon purchases since I frequently buy supplies for my business there anyway. This allows me to enjoy discounts on items my company would buy regardless.

However, having the cash-back option provides helpful flexibility for times when I don’t need additional Amazon orders.

No matter which redemption method you choose, the simple 1 cent per point valuation takes the guesswork out of using your rewards. And with no caps on points redemptions, you can cash in however many you need at any time.

7. There Are Useful Benefits and Protections

Beyond its rewards and account management features, the Amazon Business American Express Card also packs an array of valuable benefits and protections, including:

No foreign transaction fees – Avoid fees on international purchases, which are typically 3% with other cards. This can save substantially on overseas suppliers and travel.

Purchase protection – Eligible purchases are covered against theft or accidental damage for 90 days after purchase, up to $1,000 per item and $50,000 per year.

Extended warranty – Extend original U.S. manufacturer warranties by 1 extra year. Covers up to $10,000 per item for a maximum of $50,000 per year.

Return protection – Receive reimbursement for eligible purchases returned within 90 days of purchase, up to $300 per item and $1,000 per year. Helpful for items stores won’t take back.

Rental car insurance – Provides reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft when renting a car for up to 30 days. Secondary coverage with a maximum benefit of $50,000.

Baggage insurance – Covers checked and carry-on bags against damage or theft, up to $1,250 for carry-ons and $500 for checked bags.

Global assist hotline – Get help 24/7 with emergency medical, legal, and travel assistance when traveling internationally.

From both personal and professional experience, these benefits have proven enormously helpful over the years. Purchase protection has saved me on damaged shipments, the extended warranty has covered repairs, and rental coverage gave me peace of mind during business trips.

While I hope to never need to use the travel protection perks, it’s comforting knowing robust emergency assistance is available globally when using this card.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Amazon Business American Express Card provides tremendous value from its varied rewards rates to robust business management tools.

Key advantages like no preset spending cap, employee card oversight, account management features, bonus categories, flexible redemptions, and ample benefits make this one of the top picks for Amazon-focused companies.

However, the card may not be the best fit if you rarely use Amazon or already have credit cards that earn bonus points in your largest spending categories. As with any financial product, it’s wise to assess your specific business needs first before applying.

But if you frequently shop on Amazon and want to turbo-charge your rewards earnings, the Amazon Business American Express Card is hard to beat. I highly recommend it to any Amazon-loving entrepreneur.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see American Express Terms and Rates.