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American Express is introducing significant updates to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. The welcome bonus is substantial, and the card offers new and valuable perks; however, there is a catch: the annual fee is increasing from $695 to $895 (see rates and fees).
Do the card’s enhanced benefits for businesses justify this nearly 30% fee increase? Let’s break down the new features and determine if the costs make sense for your business.
These changes, which are effective immediately, coincide with similar updates to The Platinum Card® from American Express, marking one of the most significant refreshes to the Platinum portfolio in recent years.
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.
- Access to 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass (Enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Hotel and rental car elite status perks
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned; Benefits may be subject to auto-renewal)
- High annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
- Some statement credit offers are earned in small increments or only apply to purchases from a single brand
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
- See how you can unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
- New! Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
- New! Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
- New! Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Enhanced! 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- $895 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
American Express Platinum Card changes
Limited-time welcome bonus
This is one of the highest welcome bonuses I’ve seen for the Amex Business Platinum card. To put that in perspective, 200,000 points can cover some serious business travel redemptions–multiple international business-class flights for client meetings or extended stays at premium hotels for conferences.
Annual fee increase
The value of the card for cardholders largely depends on their ability to frequently utilize the credits for Dell, Adobe, hotels and Indeed. If your business regularly incurs these types of expenses and you travel often, the benefits may still make the cost worthwhile.
For existing cardholders who opened accounts before Sept. 18, 2025, the new annual fee will take effect at their next renewal date on or after Dec. 2, 2025. Be sure to evaluate whether the benefits align with your actual business needs before agreeing to the higher annual fee.
New Amex Business Platinum Card benefits
The Business Platinum Card refresh introduces several card enhancements aimed at increasing its value proposition for business owners.
Dramatically expanded hotel benefits
The Business Platinum now includes significant hotel perks:
- $600 hotel credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 each calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel using the Business Platinum Card (two-night minimum stay with The Hotel Collection).
- Premium hotel status: You can receive complimentary Leaders Club Sterling Status from The Leading Hotels of the World and enjoy upgrade opportunities (subject to availability), daily breakfast for two and other on-property perks (enrollment required).
Improved earning rates
The Amex Business Platinum now offers upgraded earning rates on key business spending:
- 2X points on eligible purchases in select business categories, as well as on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year)
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on all other purchases
High-spending perks
For businesses with substantial card usage, American Express introduces up to $3,600 in additional statement credits available the following calendar year after spending $250,000 on eligible purchases:
- $1,200 Amex Travel online flight credit for flights booked on AmexTravel.com.
- $2,400 One AP® statement credit for monthly fees on American Express One AP, the company’s digital accounts payable product.
New employee card benefits
The Business Platinum has upgraded its employee card perks and increased the cost:
- Employee Business Platinum Cards are available for an additional $400 per card annually (up from the current $350 annual fee; see rates and fees)
- Access to 30 Centurion Lounges for employees
- 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits when flying eligible Delta flights
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status
- Employee Business Expense Card option with no annual fee, offering limited benefits
Amex Business Platinum Card benefits staying the same
The Business Platinum Card retains its comprehensive existing benefit package, including:
- Up to $1,150 Dell Technologies Credit: Get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S. purchases directly with Dell Technologies, plus an additional $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 or more on those purchases in a calendar year (enrollment required).
- $250 Adobe Credit: Receive $250 in statement credits after spending $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year (enrollment required).
- Up to $360 in Indeed credits annually: Earn up to $90 back in statement credits per quarter for purchases made at Indeed.com (enrollment required).
- Up to $200 in annual Hilton credit: Receive up to $50 in statement credits back per quarter for purchases you make directly with Hilton (Hilton for Business membership required; enrollment required).
- Up to $120 in wireless credits annually: Earn up to $10 in statement credits back per month for purchases made directly with any U.S. wireless telephone provider (enrollment required).
- Up to $209 in CLEAR® Plus credit: Earn up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year for a Clear Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal; excluding applicable taxes and fees).
- Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits: Every calendar year, you can be reimbursed for up to $200 in airline fees charged by your selected qualifying airline (enrollment required).
- Up to $120 in trusted traveler program credits: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Business Platinum Card®.
- Comprehensive travel and purchase insurance, no foreign transaction fees and more
Alternative business cards to consider
Anyone considering the refreshed Business Platinum Card should evaluate their spending patterns to see if the new benefits outweigh the cost. It’s not hard to justify the annual fee if you can maximize everything this card offers. However, the benefits can be complicated or difficult to qualify for, which makes a simpler business card appealing for many.
If a $895 feels steep, consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, which has a $95 annual fee. You’ll miss the premium travel perks, but you get strong earning rates on business categories at a lower annual cost. Plus, you’ll earn transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points and get a long list of travel and shopping insurance benefits.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent business card with useful benefits, valuable rewards and a generous welcome bonus.
- Earns flexible travel rewards you can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Valuable welcome bonus worth $1,125 in travel when redeemed through Chase Travel
- Strong travel and shopping protections
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more – your points don’t expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Capital One Spark 2x Miles has a simple and lucrative rewards program because you earn at least 2X miles on every purchase and you can transfer those miles to travel partners.
- Earns flexible travel rewards you can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Choice Privileges and Emirates Skywards
- Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Has an annual fee after the first year
- Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
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For rates and fees of The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.