Points · American Express · $125 annual fee
Last verified 2026-09-09. Review issuer source
American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business is a $125-a-year points card from American Express. Its best everyday rates are 4x on dining, 4x on gas stations, and 4x on shipping; everything else earns 2x. There is also 6x on Marriott, a single-merchant rate. Rewards are Marriott Bonvoy points that only spend inside that program, so we value them at roughly a third of a cent each.
On our reference budget of $73,200 a year it earns $616, which clears the $125 fee with $491 to spare before any credits or perks. The welcome bonus, 125,000 points after $9,000 in 6 months, is the strongest reason to open it in a given year.
Keep business spending on it for the separate statement alone; the rewards are the extra. Check the issuer's other business card before deciding, since the categories differ more than the fees do.
4X points per dollar on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide
4X points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. gas stations
6X points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program
4X points per dollar on eligible purchases on U.S. purchases for shipping
4X points per dollar on eligible purchases on wireless phone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership + Earn an Extra 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Points after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
As a Card Member, You can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory when you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
Receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your Card, which includes priority late checkout when available and 25% bonus points on stays.
Get one Free Night Award every year, after your Card renewal month. And earn another Free Night Award after you spend $60,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at over 7,000 hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program worldwide. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
With Extended Warranty �you can shop with less worry knowing the terms of the Original Manufacturer's Warranty can be extended up to one additional year. Applies to warranties of 5 years or less on Covered Purchases in the United States or its territories or possessions.
Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, you may be eligible for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical, legal, and passport referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Air+Car allows members to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for flights and car rentals across hundreds of travel partners around the world.
Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels which participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions apply.
Stay connected with complimentary in-room, premium internet access while staying at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Booking requirements apply for in-room Internet access.
When an American Express Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.
Benefit descriptions are the issuer’s and network’s own wording, trimmed for length. Limits and exclusions are in the guide to benefits.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards earned | Net after fee | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Business®This card · 4x on dining | $125 | $616 | +$491 | 719th of 752 |
| Business GoldAmerican Express's most-held other card · 4x on advertisements | $375 | $1,848 | +$1,473 | 7th of 752 |
| Edward Jones® Everyday Solutions Business World Elite Mastercard®The strongest no-fee card on this budget · 2x on everything | None | $1,704 | +$1,704 | 1st of 752 |
| Huntington Voice BusinessHighest net return on this budget · 4% on auto maintenance | None | $1,560 | +$1,560 | 2nd of 752 |
Reference budget: office supplies $6,000, internet, phone, and cable $3,600, shipping $6,000, advertising $12,000, software and tech $6,000, gas and ev charging $4,800, dining and restaurants $4,800, travel and transit $6,000, everything else $24,000. Points are valued at 1¢ unless the program is worth less; statement credits, welcome bonuses, and perks are left out. Run it with your own spending.
