Business travel is a necessary part of growth for many small and mid-sized companies in Australia. Whether it’s for meeting new clients, managing supplier relationships, or attending industry events, those flights, hotels, and expenses can quickly add up. But what if they could also earn something back for your business?

American Express (Amex) offers some of the most rewarding business cards for companies that travel regularly. Pairing the right Amex card with smart invoice software like Lessn can help your business streamline payments, improve financial visibility, and earn more travel rewards without extra effort.

This guide explains how to choose the best Amex cards for business travel rewards in Australia and how invoice software supports better outcomes for finance teams and business owners alike.

Why Amex is a strong choice for Australian businesses

Amex has built a reputation around its reward programs and premium travel benefits. But its value for businesses goes much deeper than lounge access or bonus points. For SMEs and finance teams managing a high volume of supplier payments, Amex cards can be a smart tool for improving cash flow, tracking spend, and earning points on purchases that already exist in your budget.

Reward potential on business expenses

One of the standout features of Amex cards is their ability to earn generous points on everyday business purchases. These include:

• Airfares

• Accommodation

• Software subscriptions

• Marketing and ad spend

• Insurance premiums

• Contractor or freelancer invoices

• Office supplies and hardware

Many of these categories offer accelerated points rates, especially when paired with a business-specific card. Using invoice software helps businesses ensure they route as many of these payments as possible through Amex to maximise rewards potential.

Travel perks made for Australian businesses

Frequent business travellers can benefit from the extensive travel features built into many Amex business cards, including:

• Complimentary travel insurance for domestic and international trips

   

• Access to airport lounges across Australia and globally

   

• Concierge services to assist with bookings or emergencies

   

• Airline loyalty point transfers and bonus programs

   

These perks are not just “nice to have” extras. They offer genuine value for businesses looking to reduce travel costs and improve the experience for their travelling teams.

Airline partnerships that deliver value

Amex has strong partnerships with the biggest airline players in Australia and internationally:

• Qantas: Through the Qantas Business Rewards program, businesses can earn Qantas Points across all eligible spend. Points can be shared across employees, and you can access exclusive flight discounts and perks like Qantas Club lounge access.

   

• Virgin Australia: Amex Membership Rewards points can be transferred to the Velocity Frequent Flyer program, offering flexibility for domestic travel.

   

• International airlines: For businesses that operate overseas, Membership Rewards can be transferred to global carriers such as Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.

   

With so many transfer options, Amex gives your business the power to align with whichever airline offers the best routes, prices, or status perks for your needs.

Comparing top Amex business cards in Australia

Not all American Express business cards are created equal, and choosing the right one can make a big difference in how quickly your points add up, how flexible your redemptions are, and how much value you get from travel perks. Your ideal card will depend on where and how your business travels, what categories you spend most on, and whether you prefer flexible rewards or airline loyalty points.

Here’s a deeper look at three of the most popular Amex business cards available in Australia, along with the key features, perks, and ideal use cases for each.

💼 American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card

Best for: Domestic businesses loyal to Qantas

If your team flies Qantas regularly, this card is a no-brainer. It’s designed specifically for businesses that want to earn Qantas Points on everyday spend while also unlocking exclusive Qantas travel benefits.

• Points earn rate: Up to 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases

• Annual fee: $450

• Travel perks:

  • Complimentary Qantas Business Rewards membership

  • Two Qantas Club lounge invitations each year

  • Complimentary domestic and international travel insurance

• Bonus offer: Often includes sign-up bonuses (e.g. up to 150,000 Qantas Points) for new cardholders who meet minimum spend criteria

Ideal for:

• Businesses with staff who travel primarily on Qantas routes

• Teams that benefit from shared points across employees

• Companies that want to accumulate points quickly and use them for domestic flights or upgrades

Extra tip: Qantas Points earned through this card can be transferred to individual frequent flyer accounts, making it a powerful tool for both employee incentives and business travel savings.

🌍 Amex Business Explorer Credit Card

Best for: Flexible rewards and broad category spend

The Business Explorer is a versatile mid-tier option that balances a strong points earn rate with flexible redemption options. It’s a great choice if your business doesn’t have a fixed airline preference and you value the ability to use points across different airlines, hotels, and experiences.

• Points earn rate: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on eligible business purchases

• Annual fee: $149

• Travel perks:

  • $400 annual travel credit (covers the annual fee nearly 3x)

  • Access to airline and hotel rewards partners via the Membership Rewards program

  • Complimentary business travel insurance

• Bonus offer: Frequently includes introductory bonus points (e.g. 100,000+ Membership Rewards points) for new cardholders

Ideal for:

• Smaller businesses or solo operators who want low fees and high flexibility

• Teams that travel with a mix of airlines or book through online platforms

• Business owners who want to redeem points for flights, gift cards, or business expenses

Why it stands out: The $400 travel credit can be used via Amex Travel, making it a strong value play for businesses that take even one or two trips per year.

✈️ Amex Platinum Business Card

Best for: High-spending, frequent travellers who want top-tier perks

This is Amex’s premium business card offering, built for businesses that travel frequently, spend heavily, and want to provide a premium experience to their executive team or frequent flyers.

• Points earn rate: 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on eligible purchases

• Annual fee: $1,750

• Travel perks:

  • Unlimited lounge access through Priority Pass, Centurion Lounge, and other global networks

  • Elite hotel status with brands like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Radisson

  • Access to a dedicated concierge service

  • Comprehensive travel insurance for cardholders and additional employees

• Bonus offer: Often includes the largest Membership Rewards bonus in the Amex business range (e.g. 200,000+ points)

Ideal for:

• Businesses with high monthly spend across categories like travel, consultants, insurance, and marketing

• Firms with executives or founders who travel internationally often

• Companies that want access to premium lifestyle perks, upgrades, and first-class treatment

Key consideration: The annual fee is high, but the value can quickly outweigh the cost if the card’s benefits, such as lounge access, insurance, and hotel perks, are used regularly.

Which Amex card is right for your business?

Each card offers different advantages depending on your travel patterns, team requirements, and spending habits, the right choice is the one that aligns with how your business operates.

How to choose based on travel and spend habits

Selecting the right Amex card starts with understanding how your business spends and travels. There’s no one-size-fits-all. Instead, consider the following factors.

Domestic vs international travel

If your business operates mostly within Australia, a Qantas-affiliated card may be your best option. You’ll benefit from status-earning points, lounge access and point-sharing across your team. For companies with international travel on the agenda, the Explorer or Platinum cards offer more flexibility with global airline partners.

Airline loyalty and redemption options

Sticking with one airline makes sense if you already hold status with Qantas or Virgin. But if your travel routes vary or you want more redemption choices, Membership Rewards cards give you a broader menu of options.

Supplier payments and large recurring bills

Many businesses make the mistake of only using their Amex card for travel and marketing spend. But supplier invoices, contractor payments, and software subscriptions can also earn rewards if paid correctly. 

That’s where integrated invoice software becomes crucial.

How invoice software helps you maximise your Amex card value

Having the right Amex card is only half the equation. You also need the right systems in place to make sure you’re using it consistently and correctly. That’s where Lessn’s invoice software plays an essential role.

Capture and categorise card payments automatically

When you use Lessn to manage supplier invoices, it automatically matches your Amex transactions to the right expenses. This ensures your accounts stay clean, accurate and easy to reconcile.

Automate GST tracking and reporting

Lessn’s invoice software captures tax information on each transaction, helping your finance team avoid manual data entry errors. This becomes especially useful during BAS reporting or end-of-year reconciliation.

Help your accountant or bookkeeper stay efficient

With all payments, approvals and categories tracked in one platform, your accountant won’t need to chase paperwork or interpret bank statements. Lessn integrates with platforms like Xero and MYOB for seamless data transfer.

Avoid late fees or double payments

Automated approvals, reminders and payment scheduling ensure that invoices are never paid late or more than once. And because Lessn lets you pay via Amex even when a supplier doesn’t accept cards, you unlock rewards on a wider range of expenses.

A real-world example: Boosting points with Lessn + Amex

Anna runs a growing architecture firm in Melbourne. Her team frequently flies interstate to visit project sites and meet with clients. She also pays several freelancers, design software providers and cloud tools each month.

Previously, she only used her Amex card for flights and hotels. After implementing Lessn’s invoice software, she started routing all eligible supplier and contractor payments through her Amex Business Explorer Card.

Now, Anna earns an additional 200,000 Membership Rewards points per year — enough to cover flights for team training in Brisbane and a holiday incentive for her top designer. All without changing her business budget.

Common mistakes to avoid when using Amex for business travel

If you’re not seeing the rewards you expected, it might be due to one of these common missteps.

1. Paying by bank transfer or BPAY unnecessarily

If a supplier doesn’t accept card payments, you can still use Lessn to pay via Amex while settling the invoice via bank transfer. This way, you still earn points on every dollar.

2. Not categorising expenses properly

Manual reconciliation is error-prone. If your finance team can’t track what was spent and why, you may miss out on tax deductions or misreport your financials. Invoice software solves this automatically.

3. Missing early payment discounts or statement cycles

Late payments hurt your supplier relationships and can reduce your cash flow flexibility. With Lessn, you can schedule payments to align with your Amex statement cycle, giving you more control over cash on hand.

FAQs about Amex rewards and invoice software

Can I earn points on all supplier invoices?
Yes, as long as the payment is made via Amex. With Lessn, you can use your Amex card to pay even suppliers that don’t directly accept card payments.

Is it worth paying an annual fee for a premium Amex card?
It depends on your spending and travel habits. If your team travels often or spends heavily in points-earning categories, the value can far exceed the fee.

How does invoice software help with EOFY reporting?
It organises all your payments, receipts and tax codes in one place. Your bookkeeper can reconcile your Amex card spend easily and export reports for BAS and EOFY filings.

What types of businesses benefit most from this setup?
Any business that travels regularly, manages recurring supplier or contractor payments and wants to earn rewards while automating admin tasks will benefit.

Turn business travel from a cost centre into a reward engine

Business travel is often one of the largest controllable expenses for growing companies , especially when it includes regular flights, hotel stays, and team mobility. But it doesn’t have to be just a cost. With the right American Express business card, every dollar spent on travel (and day-to-day operations) can turn into valuable rewards that your business can reinvest into future trips, team incentives, or operational savings.

The real advantage comes when you combine your Amex card with the right invoice software.

By integrating invoice software like Lessn into your finance stack, you ensure that more of your supplier, contractor, and recurring payments flow through your Amex — even if your vendors don’t accept card payments directly. That means more points, more visibility, and fewer missed opportunities.

Why invoice software matters:

• ✅ Capture every payment: Route more transactions through your rewards card to unlock maximum point earning potential.

• ✅ Automate reconciliation: Match card payments to invoices automatically and categorise expenses without manual effort.

• ✅ Stay compliant: Track GST, streamline BAS reporting, and export clean records for your accountant at EOFY.

• ✅ Avoid errors: Eliminate late payments, duplicate payments, and missed statement cycles with smart approval workflows and payment scheduling.

Every payment is a chance to earn, if your systems are set up right.

Whether you’re paying for software subscriptions, ad spend, or supplier invoices, connecting those payments to your Amex card through Lessn helps your business earn more without changing your budget. It’s the smarter way to turn essential expenses into lasting business value.

Ready to take control of your business payments?

Start using Lessn’s powerful invoice software to streamline your payment workflows and unlock the full potential of your Amex rewards program.

How many points are you leaving on the table?

Now’s the time to find out, and take them back. Sign-up for a Lessn account.