Compare the Features and Benefits of American Express® Business Gold Card and
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

💳 This card earns American Express Membership Rewards points. American Express often runs transfer bonuses where you can get even more points when you transfer to airline or hotel partners at designated times. Transfer bonuses are awesome. Get 20%, 30%, 40% or more bonus miles when you transfer points at the right times. But they are easy to miss!

You can see all past Transfer Bonuses from American Express Membership Rewards here.

Even better? Get notified when a new transfer bonus comes out and again before it ends (either or both, your choice). Sign up for free alerts right here. 🔔

Is the Amex Business Gold Card worth it?

It is if you spend big. The card offers 4X Membership Rewards points in some of the most popular categories that businesses use so, if you spend a lot in the qualifying categories listed above, the card is extremely valuable.

Courtesy: American Express

Membership Rewards points are particularly useful. You’ll have 18 airline partners to transfer to, with representatives from each of the 3 major global airline alliances.

The card now also comes with up to $395 in potential statement credits, which if you maxed out would offset the annual fee. As a reminder, those statement credit offers are:

• $240 Flexible Business Credit: earn up to $20 in statement credits each month after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. Enrollment required.
• Walmart+ Membership Credit: use the Business Gold Card to pay for a monthly Walmart + membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month, valued at $155 annually.

Even if you don’t shop at Walmart, I could see easily using the Flexible Business Credit every month, even if just for a meal via GrubHub (pickup or delivery). Plus, the card also comes with Cell Phone Protection (See the Cell Phone Protection feature above for all of the details).

If you can spend a full $150,000 in purchases on your 2 bonus categories over a calendar year, that earns you 600,000 Membership Rewards points which Your Best Credit Cards values at around $10,000!

The card also has no foreign transaction fee and is especially good if you already have a nice collection of points in another credit card program, like Chase Ultimate Rewards, so you can be diversified since each program has unique transfer partners.

Rates and Fees for the American Express® Business Gold Card

The IHG Premier Credit Card can justify its place in any traveler’s wallet. After earning the excellent sign-up bonus, cardholders continue to be rewarded with IHG Platinum Elite status, an annual free night award, a reward night free on a reward stay of four or more consecutive nights, $50 per calendar year (two $25 credits per half year) in United TravelBank Cash, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS application fee credit.

Those perks easily justify the $99 annual fee, even if you use a more rewarding card for everyday spending.

Cardholders earn bonus points in a variety of categories, including 10X IHG points on eligible purchases at IHG hotel brands and 5X points on travel, at gas stations, and on dining. All other purchases earn 3X points.

MilesTalk values IHG Rewards points at 0.4 cents each. That means IHG Premier Card cardholders can expect an approximate return of around 4% on spending at IHG Hotels and 1.2% on other purchases.

For those unfamiliar with IHG Rewards, the IHG Rewards program includes hotel brands like InterContinental Hotels, Six Senses, Kimpton, and Hotel Indigo on the luxury end and Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, and Staybridge Suites for more practical stays.

Thanks to the Platinum Elite status that comes as a benefit on the IHG Premier Card, cardholders will earn 60% bonus points on stays, get complimentary room upgrades, and receive welcome bonus points when staying at participating IHG hotels.

For travelers that generally stay at least four nights, the IHG Premier Card’s fourth-night free benefit can save you a bunch of points. All you need to do is book at least four consecutive nights at an IHG hotel using your IHG Rewards points. And IHG will automatically discount one night to zero points — giving you a free reward night.

You’ll get this perk whether you’re staying at a practical Holiday Inn or staying at ultra-luxurious InterContinental Hotels.