When many of us think of American Express Membership Rewards, thoughts often first go towards the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express, or The Platinum Card from American Express. Both cards offer many different rewards, including airline credits for incidental fees – but they are not the only cards that offer rewarding points that can be transferred among partners.
For those with good credit and a verifiable “side hustle” to make a little extra money, the Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express can offer just as much value as the other consumer level cards. It all depends on your spending habits and goals for using Membership Rewards points.
Frugal travelers looking for a new way to earn points may want to consider moving to a business card. Here are some of the benefits that await new cardholders of the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card.
More opportunities to earn Membership Rewards points
While the Premier Rewards Gold card offers limited rewards categories, the Business Gold Rewards Card offers five bonus categories for frugal travelers. Those who sign up for the card can choose between receiving triple points on one of the following categories: airline purchases, advertising in select media, purchases at gas stations, shipping costs, or computer purchases from select providers. Instead of discarding the other four categories, purchases that are categorized across the group each earn double points.
To make things better, the card also offers a high ceiling for rewards. Travelers earn bonus points on up to $100,000 of purchases on each of the five categories every calendar year.
Lower annual fee than the Premier Rewards Gold Card
To make the card a little more accessible than the Premier Rewards Gold Card, the Business Gold Rewards Card offers a lower annual fee. New cardholders pay no annual fee for the first year, followed by a $175 annual fee every year – $20 less than the Premier Rewards Gold card.
The current bonus for new account holders is 50,000 Membership Rewards points after $5,000 in qualifying purchases within the first three months of opening an account. While this bonus is subject to change, it is greater than the current bonus on the Premier Rewards Gold Card.
Downsides of the Business Gold Rewards Card
While this business card has great upside, it doesn’t make it the perfect card for everyone. First off, the Business Gold Rewards Card does not come with the $100 airline credit, meaning it may be harder to recuperate the annual fee every year. Smart frugal travelers who can generate enough Membership Rewards points with purchases in the bonus categories may be able to recover the annual fee cost every year.
Second, holding a business card isn’t necessarily the right move for everyone. Because business cards are governed by different rules, frugal travelers who do not necessarily have a second money-making enterprise or lower credit scores may not qualify for this offer. Be sure to consider your overall financial picture before applying.
For those qualified travelers who spend more in the categories, the Business Gold Rewards Card can offer a lot of upside. When it comes time to earn bonus Membership Rewards points, this card may be an ideal way to add to the points balance.
Have you added the Business Gold Rewards Card to your wallet? Let us know your thoughts about the card in the comments below!
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com