There are twelve small business credit cards available through the American Express OPEN line. Each of these has a unique purpose for your small business, as well as a unique set of benefits and rewards. Before you choose a credit card from the American Express OPEN line for small businesses, it is important to compare the features of each card against its intended use.
For example, the Simply Cash credit card from American Express OPEN is geared toward businesses that would like to receive cash back on their purchases in addition to the many OPEN savings option. When you spend money on gas, office supplies and wireless services, the Simply Cash card earns 5% cash back on the total purchase amount. When you use the card elsewhere, you get 1% cash back, which is still undeniably beneficial.
Of course, many small businesses would benefit more from other reward programs, which is why the Simply Cash card isn’t the only option. If your business requires lots of travel, you might like to apply from one of the Delta Skymiles cards, of which there are three, from American Express OPEN. The regular Skymiles card, the Gold Delta card and the Platinum Delta card will earn you free miles on future flights.
If, however, your small business requires driving rather than flying, you might want to check out the True Earnings business card from American Express OPEN. This card allows you to earn up to 5% cash back on purchases made at Costco gas stations, plus a heierarchy of savings after that.
The Blue for Business card from American Express OPEN is great for small businesses that need cards with no annual fee, a low interest rate and flexible rewards at their disposal. When you apply for the Blue for Business card, you can sign up for the Membership Rewards Express program through American Express. You earn one point for every dollar spent on the card (and every dollar your employees spend), plus double points on purchases at the Bonus Points Mall.
You can also sign up for the Business Membership Rewards card from American Express OPEN, which offers the same rewards program as the Blue for Business card, but gives you 5,000 starter points when you open an account. The disadvantage to this card is that there is a $75 annual fee, plus they aren’t offering an introductory APR to offset the fee.
Another travel-oriented credit card for small businesses from American Express OPEN is the Platinum Business FreedomPass Card. This card is set up differently from the others in that you reach levels of savings determined by the amount of money you spend. For example, if you earn 7,500 points through purchases, you save $100.
And finally, if your small business requires that you or employees stay in hotels while traveling, you might consider applying for the Starwood Preferred Guest credit cardfrom American Express OPEN. This card allows you to earn points toward free nights at Starwood Hotels, of which there are more than 900 all over the world. This is a great way to save money on travel expenses while you greet clients, meet with vendors or research new avenues of business.
Choosing a credit card for your small business isn’t easy, but American Express OPEN gives you the opportunity to explore different types of credit and benefits. Small businesses of fewer than 100 employees will benefit most from these cards, as will companies that require significant travel for their employees.
