How good is the Amex Business Platin Card?
The American Express Business Platinum Card Is one of the most exclusive means of payment for self -employed and companieswho not only efficiently manage their business expenses, but also want to benefit from extensive travel and bonus services.
But at 850 € annual fee the question arises: Is that really worth it or do you pay in the end?
We looked closely at the card, tested and analyzed for months, which costs really incur, where hidden fees lurk and how to get the maximum equivalent out of the map.
Annual fee & additional cards: The American Express Business Platinum Card really costs that much
The American Express Business Platinum Card Without question is a premium credit card with a lot of exclusive advantages.
But these services have their price. It is crucial for self -employed and entrepreneurs who handle a lot of trips or business payments about it, to know the actual costs of the card carefully.
Because next to the stately Annual fee Are there fees for Foreign currencies, cash withdrawals and other additional servicesthat can quickly be important.
Annual fee: This costs the Americen Express Business Platinum card
The Annual fee for the Amex Business Platinum Card is currently 850 €if you pay for them once a year. Alternatively, you can also in monthly installments to 60 € per month Compensate.
That is a Salin price increasebecause until September 2024 the annual fee was still 700 €. The increase came with a few additional features (e.g. higher credit for partners such as Sixt+ or Dell), but this is a considerable increase.
However, there is also Two free Platinum supplement cards and up to 98 Free Gold Added Cardsthat can be awarded to employees. So if you equip several people in the company with a credit card Effectively reduce the costs per user.
If you are another one Platinum addition want that costs € 250 per year per card.
Foreign currency fees: expensive abroad?
A big drawback of the card is that Foreign currency fee from 2 % on All payments outside the euro zone.
Example calculation for payments in foreign currency:
- Hotel booking in the USA for $ 1,000 → Conversion to approx. 930 €but +2 % fee (€ 18.60) → € 948.60 total amount
- Software subscription in GBP for € 50 per month → annually € 1,200 salesbut +24 € Foreign currency fee
- Fair expenses in Japan for € 3,000 → +60 € fees
In short: if you many expenses in foreign currency you should have the card do not use as the main tube agent outside the euro zone.
Solution? Additional credit card without a foreign currency fee (e.g. Barclays Visa or Wise Card) for payments in USD, GBP or CHF combine.
Cash withdrawals: High fees on the machine
Also that Removing cash with the Amex Business Platinum is No cheap matter. The card has one Setproofing fee of 4 % of the amount – At least € 5 per transaction.
Example calculation for cash withdrawals:
- 100 € withdrawal → 5 € fees (Since the minimum amount)
- 500 € withdrawal → € 20 fees (4 % of € 500)
- 750 € withdrawal (maximum weekly limit) → € 30 fees (4 % of € 750)
This means that if you need cash regularly, you should be better one cheaper alternative for cash withdrawals benefit – about one Free visa or mastercard.
In addition, comes to Cash fee also the Foreign currency fee of 2 %if you take off abroad. That does that Pull money in countries outside of the euro zone twice -expensive.
Default interest and reminder fees: that costs late payment
The American Express Business Platinum is one Charge Cardwhat means: Each payment must be fully paid at the end of the billing month.
If the account is not sufficiently covered or the direct debit fails, fall Default interest of 8.12 % PA on the open amount.
There is also one Dunning fee of € 8 from the second reminder.
Since there is no way to Installment you should make sure that you always have the monthly amounts can pay on time.
Membership Rewards & Turbo option: How many points are really worth it?
The Business Platinum Card collects 1 point per 1 € sales – without limitation. For Frequent flyers and frequent users However, the Turbo option worth it for 15 €/year can be activated. So there is 1.5 points per 1 € sales.
When is the turbo worth?
- From € 13,333 annual sales → Turbo fee (€ 15) is compensated for by the additional points
- At € 30,000 sales → An additional 15,000 points (value € 150–450 depending on the redemption)
- At € 50,000 sales → An additional 25,000 points (value up to € 750)
Especially for entrepreneurs with High business sales is worth it Turbo modeto To collect points faster.
Calculation of profitability: How can you compensate for the costs?
Around the 850 € annual fee To compensate for the Amex Business Platinum different creditwhich at full use the Make the card almost cost -neutral.
| Credit | Annual value |
|---|---|
| Amex Travel credit | 200 € |
| Sixt+ Auto subscription credit | 240 € |
| Dell Technologies credit | 200 € |
| Ebuero credit | 300 € |
| Office Club credit | 300 € |
| Esimfirst Roaming credit | 8 € |
| Total value of the credit | € 1,248 |
At maximum use You can do this credit the annual price of € 850 more than compensation. However, this requires that you really uses all offers sensibly.
Welcome bonus: 150,000 points – what do they really bring?
The great incentive for many is that Welcome bonus from 150,000 Membership Rewards scores – but Is that really a big win or just a marketing mesh?
The conditions:
- Within the first 6 months at least € 30,000 sales With the card
- Only count business expenses – Private purchases via additional cards not
No problem for some companies, for others it can A real challenge be. But who regularly Flights, hotels, technology or large orders Let us run over the card, the goal can reach relatively easily.
What are 150,000 points worth?
- € 1,500 travel (at 1 cent per point)
- Up to € 3,750 for business class flightsif the points cleverly over Frequent flyer programs How Lufthansa Miles & More are converted
- € 1,200–1,500 cashbackif you offset the points directly with the credit card statement
In short: If you travel, get a lot out of the points – if you only buy office needs, you get less equivalent.
What credit there is at the Amex Business Platinum Map
A big advantage of the Business Platinum Card are the annual creditthat can be used for different expenses. You use them correctlet them Complete 850 € annual fee.
| Credit | Value/year | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Travel credit | 200 € | Only for hotel/flight bookings via the Amex portal |
| Sixt+ Auto subscription credit | 240 € | 20 €/month for rental car subscriptions |
| Dell Technologies credit | 200 € | 2x 100 € every 6 months for IT purchases |
| Ebuero credit | 300 € | Office supplies, telephony services |
| Office Club credit | 300 € | Coworking spaces, printing services |
Important: These credit are unpaid and Fall every yearif you don’t use them.
So who none Rental car subscription, dell technology or office services needs, the full € 1,248 cannot be exploited.
Conclusion: Is the Business Platinum Card worth despite the high costs?
The American Express Business Platinum Card is expensive – but also extremely powerful.
It offers Exclusive advantages Like lounge access, travel insurance and extensive bonus programs, but also has noteworthy fees for Foreign currency transactions and cash withdrawals.
The card is particularly worthwhile for:
- Companies with high business sales (30,000 €+ per year)
- Frequent flyers & business travelersuse the lounge access and hotel status upgrades
- Entrepreneurs who specifically use the credit (Sixt, Dell, Amex Travel)
It is less suitable for:
- People with many payments in foreign currencies (because of a 2 % fee)
- Users who often withdraw cash (because of a 4 % fee)
- Casual userwho do not actively benefit from the advantages
Who the card correctlycan the 850 € annual fee can easily get out.
However, whoever only Normal credit card without strategic use used, pays. One Combination with a toll -free second ticket In practice, the card makes even more attractive for cash and foreign currencies