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Kick-Start Your Small Business Earnings With These Amex Blue Business Plus Approval Tips

  • Jasmin Baron

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    INSIDER SECRET: This is a small business credit card, but you maybe be eligible to apply and not realize it. Many people qualify for small business credit cards with part-time side gigs such as reselling, freelancing or tutoring.

    The Blue Business®️ Plus Credit Card from American Express does not have a welcome bonus, but that hasn’t stopped it from being one of the most popular cards with the Million Mile Secrets team. There’s good reason this hidden gem is in so many people’s wallets – you’ll earn 2x American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on all purchases, up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1x points per dollar).

    That’s a big deal, especially if you spend a lot in non-bonus categories. And because the Blue Business Plus has no annual fee (See Rates & Fees), you can keep it for the long term to help grow your business. I’ve had mine for a couple of years now, as have MMS colleagues Meghan and Harlan.

    If you’re nervous about getting approval for the Amex Blue Business Plus, don’t be. The application is easy to fill out, and you don’t need to be earning tens of thousands in business income to be eligible. I’ll share some Amex Blue Business Plus approval tips to help you through the process.

    With these Amex Blue Business Plus approval tips, you could qualify for this card with just about any sort of small business or side venture. (Photo by g-stockstudio/Shutterstock)

    Amex Blue Business Plus Approval Tips

    Apply Here: The Blue Business®️ Plus Credit Card from American Express

    Read our Amex Blue Business Plus review

    Earning 2x Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar on your first $50,000 in purchases each calendar year (then 1x) with the Amex Blue Business Plus can give you a huge boost toward unlocking rewards for travel. There are plenty of ways to use Amex points, including moving them to valuable Amex transfer partners like Delta and Singapore Airlines or redeeming them for flights directly through the Amex travel portal. Check out our post on the best ways to use Amex points to see where you could escape to with your Membership Rewards.

    Most cards that earn Amex points only offer 1 point per dollar on non-bonus category spending, so this is a terrific addition to any small business owner’s wallet. It’s a perfect fit for expenses such as accounting fees, legal fees and miscellaneous supplies, and you’ll never have to worry about paying an annual fee, so it’s a no-brainer to keep it for the long term.

    Before you pull the trigger on your application, here are tips and tricks to ensure success:

    1. Have Your Personal Finances in Order

    Even though this is a business card application, Amex will consider your personal finances when deciding whether or not to approve you. You’ll want to be sure your credit score is in good shape (we always recommend a credit score of at least 700 to apply for the best travel credit cards, although banks look at other factors, too).

    Also, you’ll be asked for your total annual income, which is completely different from your business income. Be sure to include:

    Count up all your available sources of annual income to submit on the application. (Photo by malerapaso/iStock by Getty Images)

    If you have a spouse and can rely on their income to repay your debts, you can include that in your total income if you wish.

    2. Know If You Qualify

    Read our post on how to qualify for a small business credit card

    First things first: This is a small business card, so you’ll need some sort of for-profit venture to be eligible for the Blue Business Plus. However, you don’t have to own a multi-million dollar corporation or have a full-time business to qualify. Anything you do to make extra income will likely do the trick, especially if you get a 1099 tax form for it.

    I was instantly approved with a small amount of income from my reselling side hustle (you could be too if you resell on sites like Amazon or eBay). Meghan and Harlan were approved just by having part-time ventures, including managing vacation rentals/Airbnbs. Tutoring, landscaping, personal training, providing paid child care, freelancing – it all counts.

    The Blue Business Plus is one of Harlan’s go-to cards for his Airbnb rental expenses, and he’s enjoyed tons of reward travel because of it. (Photo by Harlan Vaughn/Million Mile Secrets)

    You’ll also want to consider if you’ll qualify under Amex’s application rules. The Blue Business Plus doesn’t currently have a welcome bonus, so you won’t have to worry about the Amex one bonus, per person, per lifetime policy. However, you could be denied if you’ve opened a lot of American Express credit cards recently, because Amex has gotten tougher on customers seeking lots of cards.

    3. Be Prepared for the Amex Business Card Application

    The Amex business card application is different from personal cards, but not by a lot. You’ll have to include extra information, including:

    Have a look at our full guide to filling out an Amex business card application for detailed instructions.

    4. Don’t Give up If You’re Not Approved

    It’s hard not to get discouraged if your application isn’t instantly approved, but don’t sweat it too much. If your application goes to “pending,” the bank often just needs a little more information or clarification to make a decision about your application.

    You can check your Amex application status here. It’s best to wait for a decision before calling the reconsideration line, but if you get an outright denial you’ll want to call Amex right away at 877-399-3083 to see if there’s anything you can do to get your application approved.

    Making your credit card reconsideration call a success takes a bit of planning, so be prepared to explain:

    Be prepared when you call the reconsideration line with information about your business, personal finances and why you want the card. (Photo by Flamingo Images/Shutterstock)

    Knowing your credit score and being able to explain recent card applications will help, too. You might also have the option of moving credit lines from another Amex card (or closing an existing card, if you’ve hit the Amex card limit) to gain an approval. Above all else, be polite and professional on the call.

    Do you have any Amex Blue Business Plus application tips to share? Let us know in the comments.

    And for more on earning and burning valuable Amex Membership Rewards points, check out these posts:

    Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more tips and tricks for getting free travel.

    For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus Card, please click here. 

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)