How To Apply For An American Express Business Card

Introduction

American Express offers several small business Cards in Canada, including options that earn Membership Rewards points, Aeroplan points and Marriott Bonvoy points.

One common misconception is that you need an incorporated company or a large business to apply for an Amex Business Card. You don’t. American Express allows entrepreneurs, freelancers and sole proprietors to apply for its small business Cards without having a formally structured corporation.

However, you do need to provide legitimate information about your business when applying. American Express currently asks for details including your business name, address, industry, years in business, number of employees and annual company revenue.

Let’s look at who can apply and what information you’ll need when completing an American Express Business Card application in Canada.

Who Can Apply for an American Express Business Card?

You don’t need an incorporated company, employees or a separate commercial office to apply for an American Express small business Card.

Depending on your situation, you may operate as:

• A sole proprietor
• A freelancer
• An independent contractor
• An incorporated business
• Another legitimate small business structure

A home-based business can also qualify. The important part is that the information you provide on the application accurately reflects your actual business activities and financial situation.

Business Cards can also make it easier to separate business expenses from personal spending while earning rewards on eligible business purchases.

One important change since this article was originally published is that you should not expect to repeatedly receive the same welcome bonus by cancelling and reapplying for a Card. American Express currently states that current or former Cardmembers with the same Card are not eligible for its welcome bonus offers.

Which American Express Business Card Should You Consider?

American Express currently offers several small business Cards in Canada. Which one makes sense depends on your business spending, rewards goals and how much value you’ll get from the Card’s benefits.

Two Membership Rewards options to consider are:

American Express Business Gold Rewards Card

The Business Gold Rewards Card is the lower-fee Membership Rewards option and can make sense for business owners who want flexible Amex points without paying for a premium travel Card.

Read our current Amex Business Gold Rewards Card review

Business Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Card is the premium option for business owners with higher spending and frequent travel who can take advantage of its travel benefits.

Read our current Amex Business Platinum Card review

Welcome bonuses, fees and benefits change over time, so check the current Card reviews above rather than relying on the original offers that were available when this application guide was first published.

How To Apply For An American Express Business Card

You can apply for an American Express small business Card online.

American Express currently says you should be prepared to provide information including:

• Your business’s legal name
• Business address and phone number
• Business industry
• Number of years the business has been established
• Number of employees
• Annual business revenue

You’ll also need to provide the personal information requested on the application so American Express can assess your application.

The application will ask for your business contact information. If you legitimately operate your business from home and your home address and phone number are also your business contact information, enter those details accurately.

When asked for your business address, enter the address where your business actually operates. For a home-based sole proprietorship or freelance business, this may legitimately be your home address.

The business-information section is where accuracy is particularly important.

Enter the information that reflects what your business actually does. If you’re a sole proprietor, freelancer or independent contractor, choose the industry and occupation options that most closely describe your real business activity.

For example, if you genuinely operate a freelance graphic design business, select the closest available industry and occupation descriptions for that work. If you sell products online as an ongoing business, choose the options that accurately describe those sales activities.

When asked how long you’ve been in business, enter the actual length of time you’ve been operating. Likewise, enter your actual number of employees and annual business revenue based on the information requested on the application.

You do not need to make your business appear larger or more established than it is. American Express specifically allows entrepreneurs, freelancers and sole proprietors to apply for small business Cards without having a formally structured corporation.

In Summary

You don’t need to operate a large or incorporated company to apply for an American Express small business Card in Canada. Sole proprietors, freelancers and entrepreneurs can also apply.

The key is to provide accurate information about your business. Be prepared to provide details such as your business name, address, industry, years in operation, number of employees and annual business revenue, along with the personal information American Express requests to assess your application.

If you already have legitimate freelance, consulting, contracting, online sales or other business activity, an Amex Business Card may be worth considering as a way to separate business expenses and earn rewards on eligible spending.

Before applying, compare the current options:

Read the Amex Business Gold Rewards Card review

Read the Amex Business Platinum Card review

Always check the current welcome bonus, Card fees, eligibility requirements and terms before submitting your application.