Key details
| Feature | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|
| Card type | Charge card with Pay Over Time |
| Annual fee | $375 |
| Bonus earning | 4x on top 2 of 6 categories each month, first $150,000/yr combined; 3x on flights and prepaid hotels at AmexTravel.com |
| Base earning | 1x |
| Pay Over Time APR | 17.99%–28.74% variable (as of October 2026) |
| Intro APR | None |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Credit needed | Good to excellent (690+) |
| Personal guarantee | Yes |
How the 4x categories work
Each billing cycle, Amex looks at six eligible categories and gives 4x on the two where you spent the most:
- U.S. media advertising
- Electronic goods retailers and software/cloud providers
- Restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Gas stations
- Transit
- Wireless phone service
The 4x rate covers the first $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year; after that those categories earn 1x. You don't have to enroll or pick anything. That makes it useful for businesses whose biggest costs change — ad spend in a launch month, gas and meals during a busy season.
The credits, including 2026 changes
| Credit | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible Business Credit | Up to $20/month ($240/yr) | Grubhub, U.S. office supply stores and UPS.com. UPS replaced FedEx on October 1, 2026. |
| ChatGPT Business | Up to $300 per calendar year | Added May 2026 |
| Squarespace | Up to $150 per calendar year | Added in 2026 |
| Walmart+ | Up to $12.95 plus tax per month | Covers a monthly Walmart+ membership |
If you'd use all four fully, the credits are worth well over the $375 fee. Most businesses won't. Be honest: count only the credits that replace something you already pay for. A business that ships with UPS, runs a Squarespace site and already pays for ChatGPT Business gets real value. One that uses none of these is paying $375 for the earning rates alone.
Fee history
The fee rose from $295 to $375 on February 1, 2024, as part of a refresh announced in October 2023. That refresh added transit and wireless as 4x categories and introduced the flexible credit and the Walmart+ credit. As of mid-2026, there has been no further fee change.
Is the fee worth it? A worked example
Say a marketing agency spends $3,000 a month on U.S. media advertising and $1,500 a month at restaurants. Those are its top two categories, so $54,000 a year earns 4x — 216,000 Membership Rewards points, well under the $150,000 cap. On a no-fee 2x card, the same spending would earn 108,000 points.
Now add the credits it would use anyway: $240 a year from the flexible credit if it ships with UPS or buys office supplies, and up to $300 if it already pays for ChatGPT Business. That's $540 back against a $375 fee, before counting the extra points. If the agency used none of the credits, the extra 108,000 points would have to be worth more than $375 to come out ahead.
Remember that Pay Over Time balances carry a 17.99%–28.74% variable APR (as of October 2026), which would quickly wipe out the rewards.
How it compares
| Amex Business Gold | Chase Ink Business Preferred | Amex Blue Business Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $375 | $95 | $0 |
| Bonus rate | 4x top 2 of 6 categories | 3x in 4 fixed categories | 2x on everything |
| Bonus cap | $150,000/yr | $150,000/yr | $50,000/yr |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None | 2.7% |
| Intro APR | None | None | 0% purchases, 12 months |
The Ink Business Preferred is the cheaper choice if your spending is mostly ads, shipping, internet and travel. The Blue Business Plus earns Membership Rewards too, with no fee, so some owners pair it with the Business Gold for non-bonus spending.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 4x categories adjust automatically each month
- Earns flexible Membership Rewards points
- No foreign transaction fee
- Several credits for common business services
Cons
- $375 fee is high if you won't use the credits
- Credits are monthly or calendar-year, so unused value is lost
- No intro APR; it's a charge card designed to be paid in full
- Requires a personal guarantee
Who should get it
Get it if your top two categories are large, change through the year, and you'll use at least two of the credits. Skip it if you want a simple card with no fee — see the best business credit cards or cash back business cards. Amex reports only negative information to personal bureaus. Credits and terms change, so check Amex's site before applying. Comparing to the personal version? Read the Amex Gold review.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's $375. The fee rose from $295 on February 1, 2024, and there was no further change through 2026.
UPS.com replaced FedEx on October 1, 2026. The up-to-$20 monthly credit now applies to Grubhub, U.S. office supply stores and UPS.com.
Yes. The 4x rate applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases in your top two categories each calendar year. After that, those purchases earn 1x.
It's a charge card with a Pay Over Time feature. You can carry eligible balances at a variable APR, but it's designed to be paid in full.
American Express Business Gold Card — American Express
American Express Business Gold review — NerdWallet
Amex Business Gold changes — CNBC Select
Amex adds ChatGPT credit to Business Platinum and Business Gold — CNBC Select
Amex Business Gold adds UPS to flexible credit — Upgraded Points
Do business credit cards affect your personal credit? — NerdWallet
Card terms, rates and fees change often and APRs are variable. Information was checked in October 2026; confirm current terms on the issuer's website before applying. MoneyVerge may be compensated by some card issuers; this does not affect our assessments.