American Express Blue Business Cash Card Review

Overview

The Amex Blue Business Cash is the exact same card as the Blue Business Plus, with one difference: this one pays you in cash back instead of Membership Rewards points. Everything I said about the Plus, no annual fee, 2% back on everything, a simple no-drawbacks card, applies here too.

The one edge this version has is a slightly stronger welcome bonus. So the whole decision comes down to a single question: do you want cash back, or transferable points?

Our 4.5 out of 5 rating

Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.

Rewards: how it earns

Just like the Plus, you earn 2% on everything up to a high annual cap, then 1% after. The difference is that here it is straight cash back, not points. Two percent back on all spending with no categories to track is strong for a no-fee card, and if you never want to think about redemptions, cash back is as simple as it gets. The trade-off is that cash back is locked at its face value, while the Plus’s points can be transferred for potentially more.

The fine print on rates: The 2% rate applies to the first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year; spending above that earns 1%. Cash back is paid as a statement credit, not Membership Rewards points.

Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.

Pros and cons

The welcome bonus

This is the one place the Cash version wins: the welcome bonus is a little stronger, a $250 statement credit after $3,000 in three months, versus the smaller points bonus on the Plus. It is an easy target for most businesses, and getting cash back instead of points makes the value dead simple to see.

Is it worth the annual fee?

There is no annual fee, same as the Plus, so there is nothing to justify. It is free to hold forever. The only real decision is cash back versus points, and since both cost nothing, you are just choosing which currency fits how you like to be rewarded.

First-year value vs ongoing value

The welcome bonus makes year one the high point: roughly $1,150 in value once you count the bonus, this card’s rewards, and its credits, minus the no fee. After that, the honest figure is about $900 a year, so judge whether it earns its keep on the ongoing number, not the first-year headline.

*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.

Benefits and protections

Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:

• Cash back automatically applied as a statement credit
• Expanded Buying Power to spend above your credit limit
• Free employee cards

Statement credits

This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.

Who should get it, and who should skip it

If you only value cash back and you are a small business spender, this is a perfectly good pick, no fee, 2% on everything, and a slightly bigger welcome bonus than the points version. For someone who wants simple money back and does not want to mess with transfers, it is the easier choice.

But if you are willing to learn how to use points, I would take the Blue Business Plus instead. It is the identical card that earns transferable Membership Rewards, which can be worth more than the flat 1 cent you get from cash back. So: cash back and simplicity, get this one; points and more upside, get the Plus.

Frequently asked questions

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