• The American Express Business Accelerator gives you automatic enrollment in our Membership Rewards program Choices option, giving you access to top class shopping and gifts
• You can redeem your points for flights with no blackout dates or restrictions, giving you added flexibility and convenience
• Your Membership Rewards points can also be used to pay off the balance of the card
• You'll earn points whether you're using the basic card or one of the supplementary cards (with no annual card fee
• The Business Savings Program gives you access to great business discounts
• The annual $160 card fee is tax deductible if the card is used solely for business
• Because it's a credit card, you can pay for larger purchases by attending to the minimum payment due every month.
• Read the terms and conditions

• A good earn rate for points: $1 = 2 Membership Rewards points
• Use points to pay off other card balances
• Statements can be downloaded straight to Quicken, MYOB and Excel
• Supplementary cards are free
• Global 24/7 support
• The $1 = 2 Membership Rewards points earn rate is capped
• AmEx is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard
• The annual fees may not be the cheapest, but is acceptable

How does the American Express Business Accelerator Credit Card compare for rates and fees against an average credit card? Based on the data from our website this credit card comparison scorecard shows:

		Purchase Rate	Cash Adv Rate	Annual Fee	Bal. Transfer Rate	Bal. Transfer Rate Period
	American Express Business Accelerator Credit Card	20.74%	-%	$160	-%	- months
	The Average Credit Card	17.15%	21.03%	$96	2.86%	7 months

Generally, AMEX equals businessman (or woman), in a suit, who travels. So if that’s you, this card might perk your interest. Loaded with rewards and features to suit your business needs, there’s a lot to be gained from this card if you manage it rightly.

Pros

With the Business Accelerator Credit Card, you receive complimentary automatic enrolment in the Membership Rewards ‘Choices’ program. Powerful points earning potential is the name of the game with 2 points earned per $1. Your only limitation is a high cap of $150,000 per annum, however you don’t stop earning points at this point, your earning potential just halves, leaving you still able to earn 1 point per $1 after that.

Wondering what you can redeem those points for? You can choose from all the top brands, shop online for all the latest technology, gifts, homewares, wines and sporting equipment with over 1,500 options. AMEX also have over 50 Gift Card partners or you can even redeem your points to pay off the balance on your Card, helping with your business’ cash flow.

Supplementary cards are available at no extra cost and will also earn you the same points. The $160 annual fee is tax deductible if you use your card solely for business purposes, and you receive 55 days interest free on purchases made with your card.

And here’s where the card really stands out. Every month you’ll receive a statement that includes GST itemisation. You can also download your statements straight into Quicken, MYOB, or your Microsoft Excel budget spreadsheet – saving you time preparing your BAS. Convenience to the max! You can tailor other expense management solutions designed to help you maintain complete control of your business expenses too.

Additional cards given to employees, gives your team advantages with a range of benefits and services including online account management and 24/7 global customer service and more. You can also keep track of your employees’ business expenses because all cards are linked to the one account.

Security wise, your card is covered with an Online Fraud Protection Guarantee, Emergency Card Replacement and Global Customer Service 24/7.

To apply you have to have a business with an ABN number, give your accountant’s contact details, supply at least 2 quarterly BAS for verification and earn over a very low $24,000 per year. Of course you have to be over 18 and the other usual requirements as well.

Cons

Making use of the Rewards program may have tax implications so check that out with your accountant. Same deal with redeeming points to pay off your balance. Normally the hefty annual fee is a downside but for what the card offers, $160 is acceptable.

The only major potential downside to be careful of is the fact that AMEX doesn’t have the same acceptability as Visa or MasterCard. Just make sure where you do most of your spending actually takes payment by AMEX. Also, make sure that the products and services you can redeem your points for are things you’ll actually use, otherwise, all the points you earn will be for nothing.

Conclusion

This is a fabulous card for securely and conveniently managing your business expenses. Reward earning potential is up with the best so if you’re wanting to run a business efficiently and earn some rewards while you’re at it, give this card some consideration.