| Last updated on February 27th, 2024
The Plum Card® from American Express
The Plum Card® from American Express
The Plum Card® from American Express
At a Glance
Business owners searching for a business credit card with flexible payment options will find the Plum Card® from American Express as useful as it is unique. Offering cash back, flexible spending capacity and a 60-day grace period to pay off monthly balances, the Amex Plum Card is a credit option that’s perfect for accommodating new business owners, entrepreneurs, and freelancers with irregular income.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Paying early pays off: get a 1.5% Early Pay Discount on your statement on the amount paid within 10 days of your statement closing date and no cap on what you can earn back. Just pay the Minimum Due by the Payment Due Date
- Up to 60 days to pay with no interest
- Choose whether to receive your bill at the beginning, middle, or end of the month
- Annual fee waived the first year
- No preset spending limit
- Employee Plum Cards for no additional fee
- Annual Fee: $250
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: $39 or 1.5% of the past due amount, whichever is greater
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: $39
- You own or operate a business
- You want the option to earn cash back
- You have irregular cash flows and don’t want to be penalized for it
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee for employee cards
In-Depth Review: The Plum Card® from American Express
If you’re a business owner looking for a credit card that offers flexibility and savings, then The Plum Card® from American Express might be just what you need. The Plum Card® is a $250 annual fee charge card that allows you to take advantage of early payment discounts on your business spending.
Who Can Benefit Most from the Plum Card?
The Plum Card® from American Express is specifically designed to support the unpredictable cash flow of startups, small businesses, and the self-employed. With its flexible and thoughtful features, the Plum Card is a truly unique business card that can help your budding businesses thrive.
If you’re a business owner looking for a credit card that offers flexibility, rewards, and potential savings, the Plum Card® is worth considering. It allows you to choose when to pay your bill and lets you potentially take advantage of early payment discounts, providing significant benefits for your business.
How to Get the Card
Unlike other American Express business card offerings, to be eligible for The Plum Card®, you must meet certain criteria:
- Small Business Owner or Self-Employed: The Plum Card® is exclusively for small business owners or self-employed individuals. It is not available for personal use.
- Good Credit History and Strong Credit Score: Since The Plum Card® is a charge card, you are required to pay the balance in full each month. Therefore, having a good credit history and a strong credit score is necessary.
In addition to these requirements, you will need to provide specific business and financial information when applying for The Plum Card®. This may include:
- Business tax identification number
- Proof of business ownership
- Documentation of your business’s revenue
Plum Card® Benefits
The Plum Card® offers several key benefits that make it stand out from other business credit cards. One of the main advantages is the flexibility it provides. Unlike traditional credit cards, The Plum Card® allows you to choose when to pay your bill, giving you up to 60 days to make your payment. This can be particularly beneficial for businesses with fluctuating cash flow or seasonal sales patterns.
Another benefit of The Plum Card® is the potential for early payment discounts. When you pay your bill early, American Express will reward you with a 1.5% discount on the portion of your balance that you pay within 10 days of your statement closing date. This can add up to significant savings over time, especially for businesses with large expenses.
Amex business cards, in particular, are designed to cover large business expenses as they do not have a preset spending limit. This feature is especially useful for owners who need time to determine their regular costs. In case of a business emergency, the Amex Plum Card can handle last-minute expenditure effortlessly, providing immediate peace of mind. However, it’s important to be mindful that the lack of a preset spending limit does not mean unlimited purchasing power.
Other Card Benefits
Other notable features and benefits of the Plum Card® from American Express include:
| Complimentary employee cards | Get more out of your Business Card with Employee Cards. Earn miles‡ and stay on top of how much employees are spending. |
| QuickBooks® integration | Save time with auto-expense categorization in QuickBooks- Once enrolled, your Business Card transactions are automatically tagged with your QuickBooks categories. |
| Account manager | Free up time. Assign a trusted team member to oversee your American Express account. Account Managers can handle tasks like making payments, reviewing transactions, and adding Employee Cards, so you’re free to focus on other priorities. |
| Account alerts | Set Account Alerts to help you avoid late payments, spot irregular spending, and monitor Employee Card use. |
| Vendor Pay by Bill.com | You can make the most out of paying your business bills. Improve your cash flow and take advantage of Card benefits when you use your Card to pay bills with Vendor Pay by Bill.com. Take advantage of Vendor Pay by Bill.com by enrolling your Card. With the basic plan, there is no monthly fee for the first user and no fee for a second user for six months. After six months, the second user will have a fee of $15 per month. Additional fees may apply based on plan type and number of users. |
| Year-end summary | After the end of the year, see a complete summary that categorizes your spending by month and purchase type, and helps you track your business expenses down to the last detail. |
| ‡ Terms apply | |
Comparison
| The Plum Card® | Ink Business Unlimited® | BILL Divvy Corporate Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financing | Up to 60 days to pay with no interest | 0% APR for 12 months on purchases | Pay in full |
| Employee cards | free | free | Free |
| Other | 1.5% Early Pay Discount on the amount paid within 10 days of your statement closing date | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases | Business account integrations, up to 7X points on purchases |
| Annual fee | $250 | $0 | $0 |
Tips for Maximizing Value with The Plum Card®
To make the most of your experience with The Plum Card®, here are a few tips for maximizing your rewards:
- Utilize the early payment discount: Pay your bill within 10 days of your statement closing date to take advantage of the 1.5% discount. This can add up to significant savings over time.
- Understand eligible purchases: Familiarize yourself with the types of purchases that qualify for cash back rewards. This will help you strategically plan your spending to maximize your rewards.
- Leverage expense management tools: American Express provides various expense management tools that can help you track your spending, identify trends, and optimize your business expenses. Take advantage of these tools to gain insights into your spending habits and make informed decisions.
What We Like About the Card
Payment Flexibility
Cardholders can benefit from payment flexibility, allowing them to pay in full each month or carry their balance for up to 60 days with no interest, as long as they make their minimum payment on time.
Early Pay Discount
The Plum Card rewards early payments with an unlimited 1.5% cash back on eligible charges when paid within 10 days of the statement closing date, with no cap on earnings and no purchase categories.
Things to Consider
While The Plum Card® offers many benefits, it may not be the right choice for every business.
Pay In Full Limits Flexibility
One reason to avoid The Plum Card® is if you prefer the flexibility of a traditional credit card. With The Plum Card®, you are required to pay your balance in full each month, which may not be ideal if you need to carry a balance or make minimum payments.
If you opt for a traditional business card, you have the freedom to carry a balance and make minimum payments, which can be advantageous for businesses facing cash flow challenges or unexpected expenses. This flexibility allows you to manage your finances more effectively and allocate funds to other areas of your business that may require immediate attention.
Limited Eligibility
Moreover, if you are a business owner with a limited credit history or a low credit score, you may have difficulty qualifying for The Plum Card®. American Express, the issuer of The Plum Card®, typically requires a strong credit profile for approval. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to take steps to improve your credit before applying for The Plum Card® or consider alternative credit card options that are more accessible to individuals with limited credit history or lower credit scores.
American Express Ratings
How does American Express rate as a bank and issuer? Here is a selection of ratings for the bank from consumers and experts:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
3.5/5 |
2/5 |
1.5/5 |
Should You Apply for the Plum Card®?
The Plum Card® from American Express offers unique benefits and features that can be advantageous for many large companies. The flexibility to choose when to pay your bill and the potential for 1.5% off early payment discounts make the card a compelling choice for business owners.
However, it’s important to consider your specific business needs and financial situation before applying for The Plum Card®. If you prefer the flexibility of a traditional credit card or require a low interest rate, The Plum Card® may not be the best fit for you.
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