.png)
.jpg)
In the space of a few months, American Express removed its quarterly bonus points for heavy spenders, closed its Business Gold card to sole traders and added a borrowing feature that turns a strict charge card into something closer to a credit card.
This review covers what Amex Business Gold offers UK limited companies and LLPs, how the Flexible Payment Option works, what the card costs in practice, how it compares with fee-free alternatives such as Capital on Tap, and which businesses it suits best.
TLDR: Is Amex Business Gold Worth It?
Yes, for limited companies and LLPs that spend steadily on the card, pay in full, and will actually use the statement credits. Business Gold is free in year one, then £195 a year. It earns one Membership Rewards point per £1 with no cap, includes up to 20 free employee cards, and gives you up to 54 days interest-free with no pre-set spending limit.
Best for: limited companies and LLPs spending roughly £20,000 or more a year on the card, mostly in sterling, who value airline points or will use the Dell, Enterprise and Amex Travel credits.
Think twice if: you’re a sole trader (you can’t apply), you pay many suppliers in foreign currencies (there’s a 2.99% non-sterling fee), or your suppliers don’t take Amex.
The setup most need: take the free first year, pay in full by Direct Debit, and review the card before the £195 fee lands in year two.
Amex Business Gold at a Glance
The table below summarises Amex’s published terms:
Feature | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|
Provider | American Express Services Europe Limited (AESEL) |
Regulation | FCA authorised and regulated (FRN 661836) |
Card network | American Express |
Card type | Charge card with an optional Flexible Payment Option |
Annual fee | £0 in year one, then £195 a year |
Spending limit | No pre-set limit; adjusts with your usage and history |
Interest-free period | Up to 54 days on purchases, if paid in full |
Purchase rate | 29.1% p.a. (variable), only on balances carried via Flexible Payment Option |
Rewards | 1 Membership Rewards point per £1; 2 points per £1 on Amex Travel |
Welcome bonus | Varies; reported at 20,000 points for £3,000 spend in three months (June 2026) |
Non-sterling transaction fee | 2.99% |
Employee cards | Up to 20, free |
Accounting exports | QuickBooks and Xero |
Eligible business types | Limited companies (Ltd) and LLPs |
Sole traders | Not eligible for new applications |
Minimum personal income | £20,000 a year |
What Is the Amex Business Gold Card?
Amex Business Gold is American Express’s mid-tier small business card in the UK. It sits between the fee-free Basic Business Card and the £650-a-year Business Platinum. American Express Services Europe Limited issues the card. It’s registered in England and Wales (company number 1833139) and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Business Gold is a charge card, not a traditional credit card. With a charge card, you’re expected to clear the full balance every month. Since January 2026, new cards also include a Flexible Payment Option, which lets you carry part of the balance with interest. We explain how that works below.
At its core, Amex Business Gold lets you:
Spend on business costs with no pre-set limit
Earn Membership Rewards points on everything, transferable to airline and hotel schemes
Get up to 54 days before payment leaves your bank account
Issue up to 20 employee cards and track spending in one account
Claim statement credits with Dell, Enterprise, Alamo, Indeed, Superscript and Amex Travel
Carry part of a balance over time if cash flow is tight, at 29.1% variable
How Does Amex Business Gold Work?
Charge Card or Credit Card?
Your card has two separate numbers:
A spending limit. There’s no pre-set figure. Amex sets what you can spend based on your purchases, payments, and credit history, and it moves over time.
A Flexible Payment Option (FPO) credit limit. This is the most you can carry from month to month. It doesn’t change how much you can spend.
Anything above your FPO credit limit must be paid in full each month. Anything within it can be paid off over time, with interest at the purchase rate.
The monthly minimum is your “due in full” balance plus the higher of:
£50 (or the whole FPO balance, if lower), or
Any interest and fees, plus 1/12 of the annual fee, plus 4% of the FPO balance
Amex says FPO is only available on Business Cards applied for after 28 January 2026. If you hold an older Business Gold card, you can’t add it to your existing account. In practice, FPO is a safety net, not a reason to choose the card. We looked into what carrying a balance actually costs, and it adds up quickly.
Who Can Apply?
Amex Business Gold is only open to incorporated businesses. To apply, Amex says you must:
Be a director of a limited company or a member of an LLP
Be aged 18 or over with a permanent UK home address
Earn at least £20,000 a year personally
Have a business current account with a UK bank or building society
Accept the £195 annual fee from year two
In our experience, the eligibility rule that catches people out is the sole trader one. Until January 2026, sole traders could hold Business Gold, and plenty of comparison pages still say they can. New sole trader applications are no longer accepted, though existing sole trader cardholders were allowed to keep their cards.
Will You Get the Welcome Bonus?
Not necessarily. Amex says you won’t qualify for a new cardmember offer if you hold, or have held, any American Express Business Card that earns Membership Rewards points in the past 24 months.
The bonus itself changes. InsideFlyer reported the standard offer at 20,000 points for £3,000 of spending in three months in June 2026, and a boosted offer of 60,000 points for £6,000 of spending ran until 5 May 2026. Check the live offer on the application page before you apply.
Are You Personally Liable?
Yes, in practice. Amex’s Business Gold agreement treats the business and the main cardmember as jointly liable where the business is a limited company or LLP, and the main cardmember is liable for spending on employee cards.
That matters more than it first appears. A limited company normally keeps your personal finances separate from the business. Joint liability removes that protection for this debt.
How Quick Is Approval?
Amex says you can get a response to an online application in around 60 seconds. Expect a full credit check as part of the application, and have your company and personal details ready.
Why Do Limited Companies Choose Amex Business Gold?
Points on Every Pound, With No Cap
You earn one Membership Rewards point for every eligible £1 spent, including on employee cards, and two points per £1 on Amex Travel bookings. Points can be transferred to partners including British Airways Avios, Virgin Atlantic and Marriott Bonvoy, used against your bill, or swapped for gift cards.
How much a point is worth depends entirely on how you use it. The table below assumes 1p a point, which is a common rough value for Avios transfers. Using points against your statement or for gift cards typically returns less.
Monthly card spend | Annual spend | Points earned | Approx. value at 1p a point |
|---|---|---|---|
£1,000 | £12,000 | 12,000 | £120 |
£2,500 | £30,000 | 30,000 | £300 |
£5,000 | £60,000 | 60,000 | £600 |
£10,000 | £120,000 | 120,000 | £1,200 |
Our calculations at Amex’s published earn rate of 1 point per £1, October 2026. Points value is an assumption, not a guarantee. Excludes the welcome bonus and 2x Amex Travel earn.
Statement Credits That Can Cover the Fee
Business Gold’s credits are where most of the value now sits. Amex lists these benefits in October 2026:
Benefit | What you get | Maximum a year |
|---|---|---|
Amex Travel credit | £100 at £40,000 spend, another £100 at £80,000 | £200 |
Dell Technologies | Up to £50 January to June, up to £50 July to December | £100 |
Alamo or Enterprise | £20 back on a £60+ prepaid online booking, once a month | £240 |
Indeed | 100% back up to £50 every three months (save by 31/12/2026) | £200 |
Superscript business insurance | 15% statement credit, once a calendar year | Varies |
Source: American Express Business Gold product page, October 2026. Offers must be saved to your card and are subject to change.
The honest point here: a credit is only worth something if you’d have spent that money anyway. If you already buy Dell laptops, hire cars with Enterprise and post jobs on Indeed, the credits alone can exceed £195. If you don’t, they’re worth nothing.
Up to 54 Days Interest-Free
If you spend on the first day of a statement period and pay in full on the due date, you get up to 54 days before the money leaves your account. That’s longer than many business credit cards, and it can smooth cash flow if you’re waiting on customer payments.
Employee Cards and Expense Control
You can add up to 20 employee cards at no cost. Spending on those cards earns points into the main account, and you can set limits or freeze cards. You can create expense reports in your online account and export data to QuickBooks and Xero. For a small team, that can replace a separate business expense card.
Features of the Amex Business Gold Card
No pre-set spending limit
Your limit adjusts with your spending, repayments and credit history. You can make repayments during the month to free up spending power.
Up to 54 days interest-free
Applies to purchases paid in full by the due date.
Membership Rewards points
One point per £1, two per £1 on Amex Travel, no cap.
Flexible Payment Option
Carry part of your balance up to your FPO credit limit at 29.1% p.a. (variable).
Up to 20 free employee cards
With spend limits and card freezes.
Travel insurance when you book with the card
Travel Accident Insurance up to £250,000 and Travel Inconvenience Insurance up to £200.
Purchase protection
Covers eligible items stolen or damaged within 90 days, up to £2,500 per item, subject to an excess.
Refund protection
If a UK retailer won’t take back an eligible item within 90 days, Amex will refund up to £300.
The Hotel Collection
Upgrades when available, plus a US$100 property credit on prepaid stays of two nights or more booked through Amex Travel.
24/7 Global Assist
Emergency help and card replacement when you’re travelling for work.
How Much Does Amex Business Gold Cost?
Amex Business Gold’s pricing splits into three areas: the annual fee, interest if you use FPO, and a short list of other charges.
Annual Fee
Year | Annual fee |
|---|---|
Year one | £0 |
Year two onwards | £195 |
Interest Rates and the FPO
The purchase rate is 29.1% p.a. (variable), and it only applies if you carry a balance using FPO. Pay in full every month, and you pay no interest at all.
The table below shows what carrying a balance for one month would roughly cost.
Balance | Approx. interest 29.1% | Points earned | Approx. value at 1p a point |
|---|---|---|---|
£2,000 | £48 | 2,000 | £20 |
£5,000 | £120 | 5,000 | £50 |
£10,000 | £240 | 10,000 | £100 |
Our calculations using Amex’s published purchase rate for October 2026. Daily interest approximated over 30 days. Points value is an assumption.
The result is simple: one month of carried balance costs more than twice what the points on that spend are worth. Business Gold is good value as a payment tool and expensive as a borrowing tool.
Other Fees
Item | Cost |
|---|---|
Non-sterling transactions | 2.99% of the converted amount |
Employee cards (up to 20) | £0 |
Late payment | £12 (as reported by Finder) |
Welcome bonus | Not available if you’ve held an Amex business card earning Membership Rewards in the last 24 months |
Non-sterling fee from the Amex Business Gold card agreement, October 2026.
What Do You Actually Pay Each Year?
We worked through some common patterns using Amex’s published terms for year two onwards, when the £195 fee applies.
Business pattern | Annual spend | Points value (1p) | Credits earned | Fee and FX | Net position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Consultancy spending £1,500 a month in sterling, paid in full | £18,000 | £180 | £0 | £195 | About £15 worse off, before any partner credits |
Agency spending £5,000 a month in sterling, paid in full | £60,000 | £600 | £100 Amex Travel | £195 | About £505 better off |
Company spending £8,000 a month in sterling, paid in full | £96,000 | £960 | £200 Amex Travel | £195 | About £965 better off |
E-commerce company spending £3,000 a month, 30% in US dollars | £36,000 | £360 | £0 | £195 + £323 FX | About £158 worse off |
Estimates based on Amex’s published fee, earn rate and travel credit thresholds, October 2026. Assumes 1p a point and that Amex Travel credits are used. Excludes the welcome bonus and Dell, Enterprise, Indeed and Superscript credits, which add value only if you’d spend there anyway.
Is Amex Business Gold Worth £195 a Year?
For small companies, only just. At an assumed 1p a point, you need around £19,500 of annual card spending before the points alone cover the fee. Below that, the card only pays its way through the partner credits.
Compare that with a no-fee option. Capital on Tap’s Free plan pays 1% cashback on all spending, charges no annual fee and adds no foreign exchange fees (our Capital on Tap review). If you value points at 1p, Capital on Tap returns the same rate without the £195.
Amex Business Gold makes more sense if:
You’ll use most of the Dell, Enterprise, Indeed and Amex Travel credits
You value Avios or Virgin Points at well above 1p through premium flight redemptions
You want the 54-day payment window and no pre-set spending limit
You spend more than £40,000 a year and will book through Amex Travel to use the credits
What Changed With Amex Business Gold in 2026?
If you read a review from before 2026, much of it is now out of date. Here’s what changed:
Change | When | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
Sole traders removed | January 2026 | Only Ltd and LLP directors or members can apply |
Flexible Payment Option added | New cards from 28 January 2026 | You can carry part of a balance at 29.1% |
Quarterly spend bonus removed | 1 April 2026 | The 10,000-point bonus for £20,000 spend a quarter has gone |
Travel credits introduced | 1 April 2026 | £100 Amex Travel credit at £40,000 and again at £80,000 |
24-month bonus rule | Mid 2026 | No welcome bonus if you’ve held an Amex business card earning Membership Rewards in the last 24 months |
The quarterly bonus change hit high spenders hardest. Before April 2026, a company spending £20,000 a quarter could earn up to 40,000 bonus points a year. That’s now replaced by a maximum £200 in travel credits that can only be spent through Amex Travel.
How Do Other Business Credit Cards Compare?
Card | Annual fee | FX fee | Rewards | Sole traders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Amex Business Gold | £0 year one, then £195 | 2.99% | 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 | No |
Amex Business Platinum | £650 | 2.99% (verify) | Membership Rewards, travel credits, lounge access | No |
Capital on Tap (Free) | £0 | None | 1% cashback, uncapped | No |
Capital on Tap (Pro) | £299 | None | 1% cashback, better Avios conversion, lounge access | No |
BA Amex Accelerating Business | £250 | 2.99% | Avios | Yes |
Amex fees from American Express, Capital on Tap figures from our October 2026 review. BA Accelerating Business: purchase rate 26.6% p.a., representative 104.9% APR (variable) on an assumed £1,200 limit, per Amex, October 2026.
Business Gold’s strengths are the no-pre-set limit, the 54-day payment window and the transferable points. Its weaknesses are the annual fee, the 2.99% foreign currency charge and Amex acceptance. If you mainly want rewards without a fee, Capital on Tap is the cheaper route.
For a wider side-by-side, including Barclaycard, NatWest, Lloyds and Zempler, see our guide to the best business credit cards compared
Is Amex Business Gold Safe to Use?
FCA Authorisation
American Express Services Europe Limited:
Company number: 1833139
FCA firm reference number: 661836
Registered office: Belgrave House, 76 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9AX
You can check the registration on the FCA Financial Services Register.
Because Business Gold is a charge card, you’re spending Amex’s money rather than storing your own, so deposit protection such as the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) isn’t relevant to day-to-day use.
Purchase and Refund Protection
Amex includes its own purchase protection (up to £2,500 per eligible item for theft or damage within 90 days) and refund protection (up to £300 where a UK retailer won’t take an item back). These are contractual benefits, so limits and exclusions apply.
What About Section 75?
This is the safety point most reviews skip. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes a card provider jointly liable when goods or services go wrong, but it protects individuals borrowing for personal use. Because Business Gold is held for a limited company or LLP, you generally shouldn’t expect Section 75 cover. You can still raise a dispute with Amex for a faulty or undelivered purchase, but the outcome is at Amex’s discretion.
Terms and Conditions to Check
Sole traders can’t apply
Only Ltd directors and LLP members are eligible for new cards.
You’re jointly liable
The main cardmember shares liability with the business, including for employee card spending.
FPO is borrowing at 29.1%
Using it is optional, but the rate is high. Check your FPO credit limit in the app.
Your spending limit can change
There’s no pre-set limit, which also means Amex can lower what you can spend. Keep a backup payment method for essential suppliers.
The 2.99% non-sterling fee applies to every foreign currency purchase
That includes software subscriptions billed in dollars or euros.
Credits need saving to your card
Most partner offers only pay out if you save them in the Amex app before spending.
The welcome bonus has a 24-month rule
Holding any Membership Rewards-earning Amex business card in the past 24 months rules you out.
Not every supplier takes Amex
Acceptance has improved, but some UK suppliers and trade counters still don’t accept it, or add a surcharge for business cards.
What Is Amex Business Gold Good At?
Flexible spending power
No pre-set limit suits businesses with lumpy, seasonal costs.
Cash flow timing
Up to 54 days before money leaves your account.
Travel rewards
Points transfer to Avios, Virgin Points and hotel schemes.
Partner credits
Dell, Enterprise, Alamo, Indeed and Superscript credits can exceed the fee if they match your spending.
Team spending
Up to 20 free employee cards, all earning points into one account.
Built-in protections
Purchase protection, refund protection and travel cover when you book with the card.
Who Is Amex Business Gold Best Suited To?
Amex Business Gold is particularly suited to:
Limited companies spending £20,000 or more a year in sterling
That’s roughly where the points alone cover the £195 fee.
Directors who collect Avios or Virgin Points
Premium flight redemptions can make each point worth more than 1p.
Businesses already using Dell, Enterprise or Indeed
The credits offset the fee without changing how you spend.
Companies with uneven monthly costs
No pre-set limit and a 54-day window help with seasonal stock or project costs.
New applicants who want to test the card for free
Year one costs nothing, so you can measure real value before paying the fee.
Who Would Be Better Served by Alternatives?
Business Gold isn’t the right fit for every business.
You’re a sole trader
You can’t apply for new Business Gold. Read whether sole traders are eligible for loans and compare cards that accept self-employed applicants in our business credit cards guide.
You want rewards without a fee
The Capital on Tap Free plan pays 1% cashback with no annual fee and no foreign exchange charges.
You pay suppliers in foreign currencies
The 2.99% non-sterling fee can wipe out your points. A card with no FX fee usually costs less.
You need to borrow for several months
An unsecured business loan or short-term business loan is usually cheaper than carrying a balance at 29.1%.
Your cash flow depends on unpaid invoices
Invoice finance releases money you’re already owed, rather than adding new debt.
You don’t want personal liability
A prepaid business expense card gives staff cards and spend controls without credit.
You’ve been turned down for credit
Our guide to alternative lenders for SMEs when banks say no explains your options.
Common Misconceptions About Amex Business Gold
“Sole traders can get Amex Business Gold.”
Not anymore. New applications have been limited to Ltd and LLP businesses since January 2026.
“It’s a charge card, so you can’t carry a balance.”
New cards issued after 28 January 2026 include a Flexible Payment Option, which lets you carry part of the balance at 29.1% p.a. (variable).
“No pre-set limit means no limit.”
It means Amex sets your spending power dynamically. It can rise or fall based on your usage and history.
“You still get bonus points for big spending.”
The 10,000-point quarterly bonus ended on 1 April 2026. It’s been replaced by up to £200 in Amex Travel credits a year.
“Everyone gets the welcome bonus.”
Not if you’ve held a Membership Rewards-earning Amex business card in the last 24 months.
“Business cards come with Section 75 protection.”
Generally not for a limited company card. Amex’s own purchase and refund protection applies instead, with limits.
What Real Customers Say About Amex Business Gold
American Express doesn’t have a separate Trustpilot profile for its UK business cards. Its global profile scores 1.3 out of 5 from 5,466 reviews, with 81% one-star reviews, as of October 2026. The UK domain profile (amex.co.uk) also scores 1.3 from around 930 reviews. Trustpilot notes Amex hasn’t invited reviews recently and doesn’t reply to negative ones, so these scores lean heavily towards complaints and blend personal, business, UK and overseas customers.
Negative reviews tend to focus on three things:
Spending limits reduced without warning, sometimes causing supplier payments to fail. One UK reviewer described exactly this happening to their Business Gold card in September 2026.
Disputes with merchants that customers felt Amex didn’t resolve in their favour.
Customer service that’s hard to reach or unable to fix account issues.
When we speak to business owners, the rewards and credits rarely draw complaints. The friction comes when spending power changes unexpectedly. That’s why we’d suggest keeping a second payment method for any supplier your business can’t afford to miss.
FAQs About Amex Business Gold
Is Amex Business Gold free?
Yes, for the first year. From year two, it costs £195 a year. You only pay interest if you choose to carry a balance using the Flexible Payment Option.
Can sole traders get Amex Business Gold?
No. Since January 2026, new applications are limited to directors of limited companies and members of LLPs. Sole traders can consider the BA Amex Accelerating Business Card instead.
Is Amex Business Gold a credit card or a charge card?
It’s a charge card. New cards include a Flexible Payment Option that lets you carry part of the balance with interest, so it now behaves partly like a credit card.
What is the Amex Business Gold interest rate?
The purchase rate is 29.1% p.a. (variable). It only applies to balances you carry using the Flexible Payment Option.
What is the Amex Business Gold spending limit?
There’s no pre-set spending limit. Amex sets your spending power based on your purchases, repayments and credit history, and it can change.
What is the Amex Business Gold welcome bonus?
It varies. InsideFlyer reported 20,000 points for £3,000 of spending in three months in June 2026. You won’t qualify if you’ve held an Amex business card earning Membership Rewards in the past 24 months.
Does Amex Business Gold charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes. Amex adds a 2.99% fee to purchases in currencies other than sterling.
How many employee cards can I get?
Up to 20, at no extra cost. Spending on employee cards earns points into the main account.
Does Amex Business Gold work with Xero or QuickBooks?
Yes. You can create expense reports in your online account and export data to QuickBooks and Xero.
Is Amex Business Gold worth it?
For limited companies spending around £20,000 or more a year in sterling, or that will use the partner credits, usually yes. For lower spenders or those paying in foreign currencies, a no-fee card often works out cheaper.
Is American Express regulated in the UK?
Yes. American Express Services Europe Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 661836).
Alternatives to Amex Business Gold
If you want rewards without an annual fee, read our Capital on Tap review.
If you want to compare a wider range of cards, including ones for sole traders, start with our business credit cards guide.
If you need staff cards without taking on credit, our business expense cards guide covers prepaid options.
If your team spends mainly on fuel, business fuel cards offer tighter controls for vehicle costs.
If you need to borrow for longer than a month or two, compare business loans.
If you still need somewhere to bank, read our guide to the best bank accounts for new businesses.
Verdict: Is Amex Business Gold a Good Business Credit Card?
Amex Business Gold is still a strong card for UK limited companies that spend steadily, pay in full and value travel rewards. The free first year, no pre-set spending limit, 54-day payment window and up to 20 free employee cards are useful. The partner credits can cover the £195 fee on their own if they match how your business already spends.
The limits are clearer than they were a year ago. Sole traders can’t apply. The quarterly bonus points have gone. The 2.99% foreign currency fee hurts businesses paying overseas suppliers, and the Flexible Payment Option is expensive borrowing at 29.1%. For lower spenders, a fee-free card such as Capital on Tap returns similar rewards for nothing.
In our experience, the businesses that get the most from Business Gold treat the first year as a free trial. Track the points and credits you actually use, then decide before the fee arrives whether it’s earning its place.
