Every business has expenses. Whether you’re a solo consultant or managing a 50-person team, money’s going out every month. Rent. Payroll. Software subscriptions. Ad spend. Accounting fees. Web hosting. Phone bills. Office supplies. The list goes on.

But here’s the thing: most businesses just pay these bills without thinking twice. Pay the invoice, move on. And by doing that, they leave thousands—sometimes tens of thousands—of dollars worth of points, cash back, and perks sitting there unused. It’s like walking past free money every month.

This isn’t about chasing rewards for fun. It’s about building a smart system where your business expenses do more than just pay the bills. When you run payments through the right Amex card, paired with smart tools and timing, those same expenses can give you:

• Flights and upgrades for team travel

• Business class tickets for long-haul conferences

• Cash back to reinvest in growth

• Statement credits to improve cash flow

• Points to cover software, hotels, and even taxes

American Express Membership Rewards is one of the most flexible, valuable rewards programs available to business owners. But it’s not just about having an Amex card. It’s about knowing how to use it well—strategically.

The key is stacking. That means layering your card’s points earning potential with other systems: bonus categories, welcome offers, Amex Offers, and third-party platforms like Lessn.io that let you earn points on payments you normally couldn’t.

This guide will show you how to turn everyday business expenses into a serious competitive advantage. Whether you’re looking to cover flights for your team, get more breathing room on cash flow, or just squeeze more out of every dollar, we’ll break down the strategies, examples, and tools to help you get there.

Let’s get into it. Time to stack smarter.

Why maximise Amex points on business expenses?

If you’re running a business, your spending is already happening. You’re paying contractors, covering rent, funding ad campaigns, buying software, sending your team to conferences. The question isn’t whether you spend—it’s whether you’re earning something valuable back when you do.

That’s where American Express (Amex) comes in. Their Membership Rewardsprogram is widely regarded as one of the most flexible and valuable points systems available to business owners. These aren’t just generic points that disappear into some obscure catalogue. You can:

• Transfer points to dozens of airline and hotel partners like Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hilton Honors—often at a 1:1 ratio.

• Book flights and hotels directly via Amex Travel using your points like cash, often with discounts for Business Platinum cardholders.

• Redeem for statement credits, gift cards, or purchases—handy for cash flow or budgeting for recurring expenses.

• Offset everyday business purchases like laptops, office chairs, or even digital ads—effectively turning your points into a form of reinvestment.

It’s incredibly versatile. But here’s the catch: not all expenses earn points equally, and not all Amex cards earn points at the same rate.

Some categories—like advertising, office supplies, or dining—offer bonus points per dollar. Others may only earn the base rate. Some expenses don’t earn points at all unless you route them through a specific system. (Spoiler: that’s where tools like Lessn.io come in.)

So if you want to maximise your return, you can’t just swipe your card and hope for the best. You need to be intentional—matching each type of spend to the right card and, where possible, adding an extra layer of rewards through offers, portals, or platforms.

Why bother?

Because the numbers can get big, fast.

Let’s say you’re running a small business spending around $500,000 a year across payroll, marketing, subscriptions, travel, and suppliers. With a smart strategy, that can easily translate into 500,000+ Amex points annually—and that’s before you layer in welcome bonuses, Amex Offers, or extra tools.

That kind of point balance can give you:

• Two round-the-world business-class tickets

• Dozens of domestic flights for your team

• A 4–5 figure cash injection through statement credits

• The ability to offset big-ticket purchases and keep your balance sheet healthy

And unlike random cashback deals or bank points that expire quickly, Amex Membership Rewards can be banked, transferred, and redeemed strategically to squeeze even more value out.

Put simply: when you maximise Amex points on your business spend, you turn cost centres into value generators. Every dollar you spend becomes an opportunity to earn something back—whether that’s travel, perks, savings, or runway.

Most businesses miss this. But you don’t have to.

Choosing the best Amex business cards for your expenses

If you want to get serious about earning rewards, choosing the right American Express business card (or combination of cards) is where it all starts. Not all cards are created equal—and neither are your business expenses. The trick is to align the two.

Some cards give you better rates for specific categories like advertising or travel. Others reward you with a flat rate across everything. The card that works best for your business depends on how you spend, how much you spend, and what kind of rewards you want to earn.

Let’s break down some of the top options.

1. Amex Business Platinum Card

Best for: High-spending businesses that travel frequently

• Points: Earn 2x points on Amex Travel bookings and 1.25x points on most other purchases

• Welcome bonus: Often includes a massive sign-up bonus if you meet the minimum spend

• Perks: Access to airport lounges, travel insurance, hotel upgrades, and concierge services

This is the card you want if you’re regularly flying your team around or making large purchases each month. The travel perks alone can easily offset the annual fee, and the earn rate (especially on high-value transactions) makes it ideal for businesses with big monthly spends.

2. Amex Business Gold Card

Best for: Growing businesses with focused spend in key areas

• Points: 4x points on your top two spending categories each billing cycle, from a list that includes:

  • Online advertising

  • Tech (including software and cloud services)

  • Dining

  • Shipping

• Cap: 4x points applies up to a certain annual spend cap (usually around $150,000 USD)

If most of your spending is concentrated in a couple of categories—say, Facebook ads and software subscriptions—this card gives you a big return on what you’re already doing. It’s great for digital businesses, agencies, and eCommerce companies.

3. Amex Blue Business Plus

Best for: Everyday spending with no fuss

• Points: 2x points on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per year, then 1x after that

• Annual fee: $0

This is the card to keep in your wallet for general expenses—especially if your spending is spread across a lot of categories and you don’t want to track them. It’s simple, consistent, and easy to manage, making it a great foundation card for any business.

4. Amex Business Accelerator (Australia)

Best for: Australian businesses looking for uncapped points earning

• Points: 2x points on all eligible purchases with no cap

• Value: Strong earn rate on local and international spend, with flexible redemption options through Membership Rewards

This card is a favourite among Australian businesses thanks to its simplicity and high points earning. No category tracking, no cap—it’s just reliable and generous for those who put a lot of spend through their cards.

Match the card to your spend

Here’s the key: don’t just pick the card with the highest earn rate. Pick the one that rewards how you spend.

• Spending heavily on ad campaigns and SaaS? The Business Gold could get you 4x points in those categories.

• Have a balanced monthly spend with lots of small transactions? The Blue Business Plus gives you 2x on everything, with no need to track categories.

• Travelling often or dealing with high-ticket expenses? The Business Platinummight give you the best overall return when you factor in perks and purchase protections.

And if you’re in Australia, the Business Accelerator offers a clean 2x earn rate that’s hard to beat.

You don’t have to pick just one

Many business owners run a card stack—using different Amex cards for different types of expenses to earn the maximum points possible. For example:

• Use Business Gold for ads and tech

• Use Blue Business Plus for everything else

• Use Business Platinum for travel and high-ticket spend

With the right setup (and some smart automation), you can make sure every transaction is working harder for you—earning at the highest rate available without making your bookkeeping a mess.

And if you use a tool like Lessn.io, you can even route expenses strategically through virtual cards, making it easier to automate, track, and optimise your points earning across the board.

In short: choosing the right Amex card isn’t about prestige. It’s about maximising the return on your business spend. And when you match the right expenses to the right card (or combination of cards), you turn routine payments into serious business rewards.

Mapping and maximising your business expenses

The first step is to know where your money’s going. Break down your spend into categories:

• Travel (flights, hotels, rental cars)

• Advertising (Facebook, Google, LinkedIn)

• Subscriptions (SaaS, email, CRM, hosting)

• Utilities (internet, phone, power)

• Office supplies and equipment

• Contractors and freelancers

• Shipping and logistics

• Payroll and superannuation

• Tax payments

• Insurance

Once you’ve mapped your business expenses, the goal is simple: get every possible dollar onto your Amex.

Here’s how:

• Set up auto-payments: Use your Amex for any bill that allows direct card payment.

• Use supplementary cards: Give employees or departments their own Amex cards so you capture all spend.

• Use Lessn.io: For expenses that don’t usually accept card (like rent, tax, or supplier bank transfers), Lessn.io lets you pay via Amex and still earn points.

You’ll be surprised how much spend you’re leaving off your card—and how quickly points add up once you fix that.

Advanced earning: bonus categories and welcome offers

Amex often offers massive sign-up bonuses—think 100,000+ points if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. But too many businesses either miss these or overspend trying to hit them.

Here’s how to make them work for you:

• Time large payments (like insurance premiums, equipment, or annual subscriptions) during the welcome period.

• Add authorised users (like your finance lead or operations manager) to help pool spend quickly and efficiently.

• Monitor your 4x bonus categories (if you’ve got a Gold card) and shift ad budgets or software subscriptions to align with them.

You’re not just aiming to hit spend targets—you’re trying to hit them smartly, with expenses you were going to make anyway.

Picking the right Amex business card is only half the game. The real boost comes when you start running more of your expenses through that card. And that’s where most businesses hit a wall.

Because let’s be honest—some of your biggest expenses can’t be paid by card.

Think about it:

• ATO or IRS tax payments

• Employee payroll

• Office rent

• Domestic and international suppliers who only take EFT or BPAY

These payments usually go out of your bank account via direct debit or manual transfer. No points. No float. No extra rewards for thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars leaving your account each month.

That’s the gap Lessn.io helps you close.

What Lessn.io does

Lessn.io gives you a simple way to pay any bill using your Amex (or any other rewards card)—even if the business or institution you’re paying doesn’t accept cards.

It works like this:

1. You upload a bill to Lessn.io—anything from rent invoices to tax notices.

2. You pay Lessn.io using your business credit card.

3. Lessn.io pays your supplier, landlord, or the ATO/IRS via EFT or BPAY.

They act as the middle step. You still pay your bill in full, on time, and to the right place—but now you’re earning rewards points and potentially extending your cash flow cycle by weeks.

What this means for your business

The benefit is bigger than just convenience. Here’s what you unlock:

• Earn points on non-cardable spend:
  This includes taxes, payroll, supplier payments—usually the largest line items in your expense sheet. By putting them on your Amex via Lessn.io, you’re no longer leaving rewards on the table.

• Preserve cash for longer:
  Paying with your Amex means your cash stays in your account until your card statement is due. That’s up to 55 extra days of working capital you can use elsewhere—whether it’s investing in growth or just improving cash flow.

• Batch and automate bill payments:
  Upload multiple bills, set payment dates, and track them all in one dashboard. No more logging into 6 different bank portals every week.

• Stay in sync with your accounts:
  Lessn.io integrates with accounting platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, and MYOB, so payments and reconciliations are automatically matched. No extra admin or reconciliation headaches.

Why this really matters

Let’s say you spend $500,000 a year on non-cardable expenses like payroll, tax, and rent. With the right Amex card, running those payments through Lessn.io could earn you:

• Up to 1 million Membership Rewards points (or more)

• Enough for multiple business class flights

• Or tens of thousands of dollars worth of gift cards, statement credits, or travel

That’s value you’re already generating—it’s just not coming back to you right now.

You don’t need to change your suppliers. Just how you pay them.

The best part? Lessn.io fits right into your existing workflows.

• You don’t have to convince your landlord to take Amex.

• You don’t need to change bank details or merchant agreements.

• You don’t even have to explain to your suppliers that anything’s different.

From their point of view, they’re getting paid just like before—by EFT or BPAY, on time, for the full amount.

From your point of view, you’re stacking more points than ever and giving your business more breathing room with working capital.

Redeeming your points: what’s actually worth it

Earning points is exciting. But what you do with them matters just as much.

Here’s a rough breakdown of redemption value (from highest to lowest):

• Transfer to airline/hotel partners: This usually gives the best value, especially for long-haul or premium travel.

• Amex Travel portal: Slightly lower value than transfers, but flexible and easy to use.

• Statement credits or Pay With Points: Good for direct business reinvestment, but lower cents-per-point value.

• Gift cards and merchandise: Usually poor value—best avoided unless you’re cashing out spare points.

Pro tip: Watch for transfer bonuses. If Amex offers 20–30% more when transferring to Qantas, KrisFlyer, or Marriott—you can squeeze even more from your stash.

Treat business expenses like assets, not admin

Business expenses aren’t just a cost—they’re a chance to build value, create rewards, and improve cash flow.

With the right mix of Amex cards, tools like Lessn.io, and a smart approach to expense mapping, you can turn everyday bills into long-haul flights, cash rebates, or investment back into your team.

Start today by reviewing your current payments. Where are you missing out? What could you shift? And how many points are you leaving behind?

If you’re ready to unlock more value from your expenses, get started with Lessn.io. Don’t let another payment go unrewarded.

Frequently Asked Questions About Maximising Amex Points on Business Expenses

How can I earn Amex points on business expenses that usually don't accept cards like rent or taxes?

Great question—this is where a tool like Lessn.io comes in. It acts as a bridge between your Amex card and vendors who don’t accept cards. You upload a bill (like rent, payroll, or taxes), pay Lessn.io with your Amex, and they forward the payment via EFT or BPAY. You still pay your bill on time, but now you’re earning valuable Membership Rewards points and extending your cash flow by up to 55 days.

What kind of Amex card should I use for business expenses?

It depends on how your business spends money. If you spend heavily in a couple of categories (like digital ads or software), the Amex Business Gold gives you 4x points in your top two categories. If your spending is balanced across the board, the Blue Business Plus gives 2x points on everything up to $50,000 annually. And if you travel frequently or make high-ticket purchases, the Business Platinum offers premium perks and solid returns. The key is to match your spend pattern with the right card—or even stack a few for max rewards.

Is it really worth optimising Amex points for business spend?

Absolutely. If your business spends $500,000+ annually, a smart strategy can net you over 500,000 Amex points per year—even before factoring in welcome bonuses and tools like Lessn.io. That could mean business-class flights, statement credits, or cashflow flexibility. You’re already spending the money—optimising your card usage just turns that spend into real value.

What's the best way to hit Amex welcome bonuses without overspending?

The trick is to time your planned expenses—like software subscriptions, equipment purchases, or insurance premiums—during your welcome bonus period. You can also add authorised users to help consolidate team spending and meet the threshold faster. It’s all about hitting the spend requirement with expenses you’d make anyway, not unnecessary purchases.

What's the most valuable way to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points?

For maximum value, transfer points to airline or hotel partners like Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Marriott Bonvoy, or Hilton Honors. These usually offer the highest redemption rates—especially for long-haul or business-class flights. Amex Travel is also a flexible option, and while statement credits and gift cards are convenient, they generally give you lower cents-per-point value.