December 13, 2024
Amex Business Gold: Using FedEx/Grubhub/Office Supply Credits

If you run a business of your own, there’s a high likelihood that shipping, dining, and purchases made at office supply stores comprise a lot of your business spend.

There’s data that supports how much business owners are spending on shipping. The State of Logistics Report — issued by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals — found that business owners spent a whopping $2.3 trillion in shipping this year.¹ That number increased from $1.85 trillion just last year and represents over 9% of the national gross domestic product.

As such, business owners will want to ensure they receive the highest return possible on these expenses. If you’re in the market for a new card that suits your business needs, the American Express® Business Gold Card is one you should certainly pay close attention to.

Amex recently refreshed the Amex Business Gold card, making it a top option for business owners thanks to its statement credits on shipping, food delivery services, and more. Add handsome earnings on several purchase categories, and it becomes a formidable option for cardholders who spend a lot on business purchases and who are looking to be rewarded with travel benefits.

Today, we’ll look at the refreshed Amex Business Gold card and how to maximize its earning structure and benefits to get the most in return for your business expenses.

There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s get started!

American Express Business Gold Card Overview

American Express® Business Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Learn More(at Amex’s secure site)

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

$1,540

19.49% – 28.49% Variable

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Pros

  • 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
    • NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
    • NEW! U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
    • NEW! Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
    • U.S. purchases at gas stations
    • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
    • Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
  • 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection

Cons

  • $375 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status

  • Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
  • Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
  • Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
  • Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
  • *Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.49% – 28.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 110,000 points with the Amex Business Gold card! The current public offer is 70,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Key Benefits of the Amex Business Gold Card

The Amex Business Gold card offers a myriad of new benefits that make it a worthwhile addition to your roster, especially if you’re a business owner.

Cardholders can can enroll to receive statement credits on select purchases. You will receive up to $395 in statement credits per year. Here’s a breakdown of how you’ll earn these credits:

  • Up to $240 back annually ($20 a month) for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores (enrollment required)
  • Up to $155 back annually for a monthly Walmart+ membership (enrollment required)

In addition to new statement credits, the card’s earning structure got an overhaul. Cardholders will earn 4x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent in their top 2 spending categories (up to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year) from the following categories:

  • Transit purchases, including trains, taxis, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
  • U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
  • Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone provider in the U.S.
  • U.S. purchases at gas stations
  • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
  • Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)


Hot Tip:

These aren’t all of the changes Amex has made to this card. Cardholders will now earn 3x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid packages booked through AmexTravel.com. Another new benefit added to the card is cell phone protection against theft and damage, including cosmetic damage (such as a cracked phone screen).

Some benefits remain unchanged:

  • Purchase Protection: Purchases are covered for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per item and $50,000 per year, in the event of theft, loss, or damage.
  • Extended Warranty Protection: Items purchased with a manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less can be extended up to 1 additional year.
  • Trip Delay Insurance: If your flight is delayed by more than 12 hours, you’re covered for up to $300 for reasonable expenses like meals, lodging, and personal use items.
  • Baggage Insurance: If your baggage is lost during transit or items inside are damaged, you are covered up to $1,250 per traveler for carry-on bags and up to $500 per traveler for checked bags.
  • Rental Car Insurance: Secondary coverage for your rental vehicle covers damages caused by theft or collision up to $50,000.
  • American Express Hotel Collection: When you book through The Hotel Collection, you’ll receive a space-available room upgrade at check-in and a $100 credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities.

The card’s annual fee will increase to $375 beginning February 1, 2024.

Up to $240 in Statement Credits for FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores

You’ll get a total of up to $395 in yearly statement credits. You’ll receive up to $155 annually in Walmart+ statement credits, but the bulk of these statement credits (up to $240 annually distributed as up to $20 per month) will come for purchases made with FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores.

It’s important to note that you won’t receive a $20 statement credit for each type of purchase but rather for each month. So if you’ve received a $20 statement credit for FedEx for the month of February, for instance, you won’t receive a separate $20 statement credit for Grubhub for that month.

We’ll review each type of purchase in this category briefly below.

FedEx

Shipping with FedEx is something many business owners do multiple times on a monthly basis, and now, you’re eligible to receive a statement credit when you do so.

Thanks to frequent Amex Offers for FedEx, you may also be able to double-dip in this category.

Grubhub

Grubhub bagging
Image Credit: Grubhub

Grubhub is one of the most well-known food delivery services, and it’s become a huge part of our lives, whether you’re using it for business or personal purposes.

This is another vendor in this category where you could receive up to a $20 statement credit per month on your purchases. As Grubhub deliveries can easily cost $20 or more (and you’ll get free delivery on orders greater than $12 with a Grubhub+ membership), this should be one of the easiest types of purchases in this category to take advantage of.

Office Supply Stores

If you need to purchase items like paper, computers, or office furniture, you could also tap into the statement credit of up to $20 for purchases at office supply stores such as Office Depot or Staples.

Final Thoughts

American Express substantially refreshed how the Amex Business Gold card earns Membership Rewards points, and now the card offers more opportunities to earn statement credits. If you’re a business owner looking to maximize your purchases, this is a card you’ll want to consider adding to your wallet.


For the purchase protection benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase with their eligible card, purchase protection can help protect their covered purchases for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. 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.

For the extended warranty benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. 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.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, up to $300 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. 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.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip. 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.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the American Express® Business Gold Card, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. 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.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.

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