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American Express closed its Business Platinum card to sole traders, swapped a 120,000-point annual bonus for capped travel credits, and changed who is legally on the hook for the bill. If you read a review of this card from before April 2026, most of the value calculations no longer hold.
This review covers what Amex Business Platinum offers UK limited companies and LLPs, what the £650 fee buys you in practice, how it compares with Business Gold and fee-free cards such as Capital on Tap, and the spending level where the card starts to pay for itself.
TLDR: Is Amex Business Platinum Worth It?
Yes, for limited companies and LLPs whose directors travel regularly, spend £60,000 or more a year on the card, pay in full and will use the travel credits. Business Platinum costs £650 a year from day one. It earns one Membership Rewards point per £1 with no cap, gives up to £600 a year in Amex Travel credit, and includes unlimited Priority Pass lounge access, hotel status and worldwide travel insurance.
Best for: directors who fly several times a year, spend at least £60,000 annually in sterling and would otherwise pay for lounge access, travel insurance or hotel upgrades.
Think twice if: you rarely travel, spend under £30,000 a year on the card, pay suppliers in foreign currencies (there’s a 2.99% non-sterling fee), or you’re a sole trader (you can’t apply).
The setup most need: a Business Platinum card for travel and sterling spending, plus a fee-free Visa or Mastercard for suppliers that don’t take Amex and for foreign currency payments.
Amex Business Platinum at a Glance
The table below summarises Amex’s published terms as of October 2026:
Feature | Amex Business Platinum |
|---|---|
Provider | American Express Services Europe Limited (AESEL) |
Regulation | FCA authorised and regulated (FRN 661836) |
Card network | American Express |
Card type | Charge card with a Flexible Payment Option |
Annual fee | £650 a year, including year one |
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 50,000 points for £6,000 spend in three months |
Amex Travel credit | £200 a year with no minimum spend, plus £200 at £60,000 and £200 at £120,000 |
Airport lounges | Global Lounge Collection, 1,550+ lounges, including Priority Pass |
Non-sterling transaction fee | 2.99% |
Employee cards | 1 free Business Platinum card, plus up to 19 free Business Gold cards |
Accounting exports | QuickBooks and Xero |
Eligible business types | Limited companies (Ltd) and LLPs |
Sole traders | Not eligible for new applications |
Minimum personal income | £35,000 a year |
What Is the Amex Business Platinum Card?
Amex Business Platinum is American Express’s top-tier small business card in the UK. It sits above the £195-a-year Business Gold card and is aimed at company directors who travel for work. 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).
Like Business Gold, Platinum is a charge card: you’re expected to clear the full balance each month. Cards applied for from 28 January 2026 also include a Flexible Payment Option, which lets you carry part of the balance with interest.
In our experience, the most useful way to think about Business Platinum is as a travel benefits package with a payment card attached. Earning rates are identical to Business Gold. Almost all of the extra £455 a year you pay over Gold buys lounge access, insurance, hotel status and larger statement credits.
At its core, Amex Business Platinum 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
Use up to £600 a year in Amex Travel credit
Access more than 1,550 airport lounges, with a guest
Claim statement credits with Dell, Indeed, Enterprise, Alamo and Superscript
Carry part of a balance over time if cash flow is tight, at 29.1% variable
How Does Amex Business Platinum Work?
Charge Card or Credit Card?
Your card comes with two separate figures:
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, 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 default fees, plus 1/12 of the annual fee, plus 4% of the FPO balance
It’s worth noting how that second calculation hits Platinum harder than Gold. Because 1/12 of the annual fee goes into the minimum payment, a Platinum cardholder carrying a balance pays around £54 a month towards the fee on top of interest and the 4% repayment. On Business Gold, the same element is about £16. We show what that means in the cost section below.
Amex’s Flexible Payment Option page confirms FPO is only available on Business Cards applied for after 28 January 2026. If you hold an older Platinum card, you can’t add FPO; you’d need to apply for a new card.
Who Can Apply?
Amex Business Platinum is only open to incorporated businesses. According to Amex’s Business Platinum eligibility criteria, 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 £35,000 a year personally
Have a business current account with a UK bank or building society
Accept the £650 annual fee
The income threshold is the detail most comparison pages gloss over. Business Gold asks for £20,000 personal income; Platinum asks for £35,000. When we speak to business owners who pay themselves a low salary and take the rest in dividends, this is the rule that can catch them out, so check how your income will be assessed before applying.
Sole traders can’t apply for new cards. Existing sole trader cardholders from before January 2026 were allowed to keep their cards.
Will You Get the Welcome Bonus?
Probably, even if you already hold another Amex card. Amex’s eligibility terms say you won’t qualify for a new cardmember offer only if you hold, or have held, a Business Platinum Card in the past 24 months.
That’s a looser rule than Business Gold, which excludes anyone who has held any Membership Rewards-earning Amex business card in the same period. In practice, it means a current Business Gold cardholder can apply for Platinum and still get the bonus.
At an assumed 1p a point, that bonus is worth around £500, which offsets most of the first year’s fee. Check the live offer on the application page before you apply, as it changes.
Are You Personally Liable?
Yes, through a personal guarantee. This is one of the less publicised 2026 changes. According to Amex’s Business Customer Centre, cards applied for on or after 28 January 2026 operate under company liability supported by a business personal guarantee. Older cards keep the previous joint and several liability structure.
The result is similar for most directors: if the company can’t pay, Amex can pursue you personally. A limited company normally keeps your personal finances separate from the business, so read the guarantee wording carefully before you sign. As the main cardmember, you’re also liable for spending on employee cards.
How Quick Is Approval?
Amex says you can get a response to an online application in around 60 seconds. Expect a full credit check, and have your company and personal details ready.
Why Do Limited Companies Choose Amex Business Platinum?
Up to £600 a Year in Travel Credit
Business Platinum’s travel credit is the most predictable part of its value. Amex lists a £200 credit each card membership year with no minimum spend, plus £200 more at £60,000 of spend and another £200 at £120,000.
The base £200 is the important one. Unlike Business Gold’s credits, you don’t need to hit a spending threshold to unlock it, so even a light user can recover nearly a third of the fee. The catch is that credits only apply to eligible prepaid bookings made through Amex Travel Online. In our experience, Amex Travel prices aren’t always the cheapest available, so compare the same flight or hotel elsewhere before booking. A £200 credit on a booking that costs £60 more than booking direct is really worth £140.
Lounge Access
The Global Lounge Collection gives you, your Business Platinum employee cardmember and a guest each complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass. Head for Points reports that Priority Pass visits are unlimited, that additional guests are charged at £24 each, and that the card includes eight credits a year to pre-book selected UK Priority Pass lounges.
That £24 guest charge is a useful way to put a value on access. We worked through a simple example:
Trips a year | Lounge visits | Approx. value at £24 pp |
|---|---|---|
3 | 6 | £144 |
6 | 12 | £288 |
10 | 20 | £480 |
15 | 30 | £720 |
Our calculations use the £24 additional-guest rate, October 2026. Assumes one lounge visit per trip for two people.
Lounge access is worth nothing if you’d never pay for it. If you fly a handful of times a year and are happy at the gate, don’t count it towards the fee.
Points on Every Pound
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. Head for Points values airline miles at 0.75p to 1p each, which it describes as conservative. The table below uses 1p a point.
Monthly card spend | Annual spend | Points earned | Approx. value at 1p a point |
|---|---|---|---|
£2,500 | £30,000 | 30,000 | £300 |
£5,000 | £60,000 | 60,000 | £600 |
£10,000 | £120,000 | 120,000 | £1,200 |
£15,000 | £180,000 | 180,000 | £1,800 |
Our calculations are based on Amex’s published earn rate of 1 point per £1, October 2026. Points value is an assumption, not a guarantee.
Membership Rewards points are credited to the individual cardholder rather than the company. If your company pays the bill and you redeem the points personally, speak to your accountant about how that should be treated.
Statement Credits That Can Cover the Fee
Platinum’s partner credits are larger than Business Gold’s.
Benefit | What you get | Maximum a year | Gold equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Amex Travel credit | £200 with no minimum spend, plus £200 at £60,000 and £200 at £120,000 | £600 | £200 |
Indeed | Up to £75 back every quarter | £300 | £200 |
Dell Technologies | Up to £75 January to June, up to £75 July to December | £150 | £100 |
Alamo or Enterprise | £20 back on a £60+ prepaid online booking, once a month | £240 | £240 |
Superscript business insurance | 15% statement credit, once a calendar year | Varies | Same |
The Times and Sunday Times | Complimentary digital subscription | Not stated | Not included |
Offers are subject to change.
A credit is only worth something if you’d have spent that money anyway. If you already recruit on Indeed and buy Dell hardware, these two credits alone add up to £450 a year. If you don’t, they’re worth nothing.
Hotel Status Without the Nights
Head for Points reports that the card includes Gold status with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, ALL Accor and MeliáRewards, and Premium status with Radisson Rewards. Hilton Gold includes free breakfast, which on its own can be worth more than the card’s Dell credit for someone who stays in Hilton hotels a few times a year.
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 can smooth cash flow if you’re waiting on customer payments.
Features of the Amex Business Platinum Card
No pre-set spending limit
Your limit adjusts with your spending, repayments and credit history. You can repay 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.
Up to £600 Amex Travel credit
£200 a year with no minimum spend, plus £200 at £60,000 and £200 at £120,000.
Global Lounge Collection
Access to more than 1,550 airport lounges for you, your Platinum employee cardmember and a guest each.
Hotel status
Gold status with Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor and Meliá, and Premium status with Radisson, as reported by Head for Points.
Fine Hotels + Resorts
At over 1,600 premium properties: daily breakfast for two, a US$100 property credit, upgrades when available and guaranteed 4 pm check-out.
Worldwide travel insurance
Covers you, your family and employee cardmembers on business and leisure trips of up to 120 days. Enrolment required.
Flexible Payment Option
Carry part of your balance up to your FPO credit limit at 29.1% p.a. (variable).
Employee cards
One free Business Platinum employee card and up to 19 free Business Gold employee cards, with spend limits.
Purchase and refund protection
Up to £2,500 per eligible item stolen or damaged within 90 days, and up to £300 if a UK retailer won’t take back an eligible item.
Platinum Travel Services and 24/7 Global Assist
A dedicated travel team, plus emergency help and card replacement when you’re abroad.
How Much Does Amex Business Platinum Cost?
Annual Fee
Year | Annual fee |
|---|---|
Year one | £650 |
Year two onwards | £650 |
There’s no free first year, unlike Business Gold. Head for Points reports the fee is refundable pro rata if you cancel, so you’re not locked into a full year if the card doesn’t work out. The fee should also be tax-deductible as a business expense if the card is used only for business.
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.
The table below shows the first monthly minimum payment if you carry a balance, using Amex’s published formula.
FPO balance | Approx. interest | Monthly fee | 4% of balance | Approx. min. payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
£2,000 | £48 | £54 | £80 | £182 |
£5,000 | £120 | £54 | £200 | £374 |
£10,000 | £239 | £54 | £400 | £693 |
Our calculations use Amex’s published purchase rate and minimum payment formula, October 2026. Interest approximated over 30 days.
The result is that borrowing on Business Platinum costs far more than the points it earns. One month’s interest on £5,000 is around £120, against roughly £50 of points on that spend. Platinum 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 |
First Business Platinum employee card | £0 |
Additional Business Platinum employee cards | £295 a year each |
Business Gold employee cards (up to 19) | £0 |
Welcome bonus | Not available if you’ve held Business Platinum in the last 24 months |
Non-sterling fee as reported by Forbes Advisor, August 2026. Additional card fee from Finder, January 2026. Check for current charges, including late payment fees.
What Do You Actually Pay Each Year?
We worked through some common patterns using Amex’s published terms. These figures count only points and Amex Travel credit, the two benefits almost every cardholder can use.
Use | Annual spend | Points value (1p) | Travel credit | Fee and FX | Net position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Consultancy spending £2,000 a month in sterling, paid in full | £24,000 | £240 | £200 | £650 | About £210 worse off |
Agency spending £5,000 a month in sterling, paid in full | £60,000 | £600 | £400 | £650 | About £350 better off |
Company spending £10,000 a month in sterling, paid in full | £120,000 | £1,200 | £600 | £650 | About £1,150 better off |
E-commerce company spending £4,000 a month, 30% in US dollars | £48,000 | £480 | £200 | £650 + £431 FX | About £401 worse off |
Estimates based on Amex’s published fee, earn rate and travel credit thresholds, October 2026.
The consultancy example shows why spending level matters so much. At £24,000 a year, the card only breaks even if you use roughly £210 of the lounge, insurance or partner benefits. Four lounge visits with a guest would do it.
Is Amex Business Platinum Worth £650 a Year?
For most small companies, only if you travel. At an assumed 1p a point, points alone cover the fee at £65,000 of annual spending. Using the base £200 travel credit brings that down to £45,000.
The more useful question for many readers is whether Platinum beats Business Gold, since both earn points at the same rate. We compared the hard credits on each card from year two, when Gold costs £195:
Annual spend | Extra fee over Gold | Extra credits over Gold | Gap left to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
Under £40,000 | £455 | £350 | £105 |
£60,000 | £455 | £450 | £5 |
£120,000 | £455 | £550 | £95 in Platinum’s favour |
Our calculations use Amex’s published Business Platinum and Business Gold benefits, October 2026.
This is the clearest finding from our analysis. If you’d use every credit on both cards, Platinum’s extra benefits nearly pay for its extra fee at £60,000 of spending, and the lounge access, hotel status and travel insurance come close to free. Below that, you’re paying around £105 a year for those travel extras. If you won’t use the Dell or Indeed credits, that gap widens to £255.
Compare that with a no-fee option. Capital on Tap’s Free plan pays 1% cashback with no annual fee and no foreign exchange fees (see our Capital on Tap review). If you value points at 1p and don’t travel, it returns the same rate for nothing.
Amex Business Platinum makes more sense if:
You fly several times a year and would otherwise pay for lounges or travel insurance
You spend at least £60,000 a year on the card, mostly in sterling
You’ll book through Amex Travel often enough to use the credits without overpaying
You already use Indeed, Dell or stay in Hilton or Marriott hotels
You want the 54-day payment window and no pre-set spending limit
What Changed With Amex Business Platinum in 2026?
If you read a review from before 2026, much of it is now out of date:
Change | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
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% |
Liability structure changed | New cards from 28 January 2026 | Company liability backed by a personal guarantee |
Monthly spend bonus removed | 1 April 2026 | The 10,000-point bonus for £10,000 spend in a calendar month has gone |
Travel credits expanded | 1 April 2026 | £200 at £60,000 and another £200 at £120,000, on top of the existing £200 |
Welcome bonus rule loosened | August 2026 | Only blocked if you’ve held Business Platinum in the last 24 months |
The monthly bonus change hit high spenders hardest. Before April 2026, a company spending £10,000 every month could earn 120,000 bonus points a year, worth around £1,200 at 1p each. That’s been replaced by a maximum of £400 in new Amex Travel credit. For that business, the card is now worth roughly £800 a year less, and the remaining credits can only be spent through Amex Travel.
How Do Other Business Credit Cards Compare?
Card | Annual fee | FX fee | Rewards | Lounge access | Sole traders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amex Business Platinum | £650 | 2.99% | 1 Membership Rewards point per £1, up to £600 travel credit | Yes, 1,550+ lounges | No |
£0 year one, then £195 | 2.99% | 1 Membership Rewards point per £1, up to £200 travel credit | No | No | |
Capital on Tap (Free) | £0 | None | 1% cashback, uncapped | No | No |
Capital on Tap (Pro) | £299 | None | 1% cashback, better Avios conversion | Yes | No |
BA Amex Accelerating Business | £250 | 2.99% | Avios | No | Yes |
Capital on Tap Pro is the most direct rival for a travelling director. It costs £351 less a year, includes lounge access and charges no foreign exchange fees, and as a Visa it’s accepted more widely. Platinum’s case rests on its larger travel credits, hotel status, travel insurance and the welcome bonus. If you pay overseas suppliers regularly, the FX difference alone can decide it.
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 Platinum 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 Platinum 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, Refund and Travel Protection
Amex includes purchase protection (up to £2,500 per eligible item for theft or damage within 90 days), refund protection (up to £300 where a UK retailer won’t take an item back) and worldwide travel insurance for trips of up to 120 days. Head for Points describes the business travel insurance as stronger than the personal Platinum card’s, with no excess and cover up to age 80.
What About Section 75?
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 Platinum is held for a limited company or LLP, you generally shouldn’t expect Section 75 cover. You can still raise a dispute with Amex, 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 need £35,000 personal income
That’s £15,000 more than Business Gold requires.
You sign a personal guarantee
New cards operate under company liability backed by your personal guarantee.
The fee applies from day one
There’s no free first year, though the fee is reported to be refundable pro rata if you cancel.
FPO is borrowing at 29.1%
Carrying a balance also adds 1/12 of the £650 fee to each minimum payment.
Travel credits only work through Amex Travel
Compare prices elsewhere before booking so the credit isn’t eaten up by a higher fare.
The 2.99% non-sterling fee applies to every foreign currency purchase
That includes software subscriptions billed in dollars or euros.
Benefits need enrolment
Hotel status, insurance and partner credits generally need activating after approval.
Not every supplier takes Amex
Keep a Visa or Mastercard for suppliers that don’t accept it or add a surcharge.
What Is Amex Business Platinum Good At?
Travel benefits
Lounge access with a guest, hotel status and strong travel insurance in one card.
Predictable credit value
The £200 Amex Travel credit needs no minimum spend.
Rewarding high spenders
At £120,000 a year, travel credits reach £600 on top of points.
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.
Team spending
A free second Platinum card plus up to 19 free Gold employee cards, all earning points.
Who Is Amex Business Platinum Best Suited To?
Amex Business Platinum is particularly suited to:
Directors who travel abroad several times a year
Lounge access and travel insurance can replace costs you’d pay anyway.
Limited companies spending £60,000 or more a year in sterling
That’s where Platinum’s extra credits roughly match its extra fee over Gold.
Businesses already using Indeed or Dell
Those two credits add up to £450 a year without changing how you spend.
Frequent Hilton or Marriott guests
Gold status can mean free breakfast and upgrades on every stay.
Business Gold holders looking to upgrade
You can still qualify for the Platinum welcome bonus under the current rules.
Who Would Be Better Served by Alternatives?
Business Platinum isn’t the right fit for every business.
You rarely travel
Amex Business Gold earns the same points for £195 a year, and nothing in year one.
You’re a sole trader
You can’t apply. 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 to sign a personal guarantee
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 Platinum
“Platinum earns more points than Gold.”
It doesn’t. Both earn one point per £1 and two per £1 on Amex Travel. The extra fee buys travel benefits and larger credits, not a higher earn rate.
“You still get bonus points for big monthly spending.”
The 10,000-point monthly bonus ended on 1 April 2026. It’s been replaced by up to £400 of extra Amex Travel credit a year.
“If you hold Business Gold, you can’t get the Platinum bonus.”
Under the August 2026 rules, only holding Business Platinum in the last 24 months rules you out.
“Limited company cards keep your personal finances safe.”
New cards are backed by a personal guarantee from the director.
“It’s a charge card, so you can’t carry a balance.”
Cards applied for from 28 January 2026 include a Flexible Payment Option at 29.1% p.a. (variable).
“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 Platinum
American Express doesn’t have a separate Trustpilot profile for its UK business cards. Its global profile scores 1.3 out of 5 from around 5,500 reviews, as of October 2026, and the UK domain profile also scores 1.3. Trustpilot notes Amex hasn’t invited reviews recently, so these scores lean towards complaints and blend personal, business, UK and overseas customers.
Negative reviews tend to focus on three things:
Spending power reduced without warning, sometimes causing supplier payments to fail
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
Specialist travel communities give a more mixed picture. Readers commenting on Head for Points’ coverage of the April 2026 changes were critical of the switch from points to Amex Travel credits, with several saying they’d move to Capital on Tap Pro instead.
When we speak to business owners, the lounge access and insurance rarely draw complaints. The friction comes from changing spending power and from benefits that are harder to use than they look on paper. 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 Platinum
How much is the Amex Business Platinum annual fee?
£650 a year, including the first year. Head for Points reports the fee is refundable pro rata if you cancel.
Can sole traders get Amex Business Platinum?
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 Platinum 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 Platinum 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 Platinum welcome bonus?
Head for Points reported 50,000 points for £6,000 of spending in three months in October 2026. You won’t qualify if you’ve held Business Platinum in the past 24 months.
Does Amex Business Platinum include lounge access?
Yes. You, your Platinum employee cardmember and a guest each get complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges through the Global Lounge Collection, including Priority Pass.
What travel credits does Amex Business Platinum offer?
Up to £600 a year at Amex Travel: £200 with no minimum spend, £200 at £60,000 of spend and another £200 at £120,000.
Is Amex Business Platinum better than Business Gold?
Only if you travel. Both earn the same points. Platinum costs £455 more a year from year two and adds lounge access, hotel status, travel insurance and larger credits.
What income do I need for Amex Business Platinum?
At least £35,000 a year personally, compared with £20,000 for Business Gold.
Does Amex Business Platinum charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes. Amex adds a 2.99% fee to purchases in currencies other than sterling.
Is Amex Business Platinum worth it?
For limited companies spending £60,000 or more a year in sterling with directors who travel, usually yes. For lower spenders who rarely fly, Business Gold or a no-fee card usually 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 Platinum
If you want the same points without the travel extras, read our Amex Business Gold review.
If you want rewards without an annual fee, or lounge access at a lower 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.
Verdict: Is Amex Business Platinum a Good Credit Card?
Amex Business Platinum is a strong card for UK limited companies whose directors travel regularly and spend heavily in sterling. The £200 travel credit with no minimum spend, unlimited lounge access with a guest, hotel status and travel insurance add up to real value if they replace costs you’d pay anyway. At £60,000 of annual spending, its extra credits roughly cover the extra fee over Business Gold.
The limits are sharper than they were a year ago. The monthly bonus that made Platinum attractive to high spenders has gone, cutting around £800 a year from its value at £120,000 of spend. Sole traders can’t apply, new cards need a personal guarantee, and the 2.99% foreign currency fee and 29.1% borrowing rate make it a poor fit for overseas payments or carrying a balance.
In our experience, the businesses that get the most from Business Platinum are honest about how often they travel. Count the lounge visits, hotel stays and credits you’d actually use. If that total doesn’t clear £455 more than Business Gold gives you, Gold or a fee-free card is the better choice.
