Using the American Express Gold Card for events, travel and dining elevates your relationship with employees and business clients. The card gives you access to attractions and shows before the general public. With expenses always an issue for small business owners, your company can save money with discounts on hotel rooms and airline travel.

The American Express Gold business card racks up Rewards points for every dollar spent. You can get multiple cards and give them to each employee for business expenses. This will help you accrue even more American Express Rewards points.

1. Book travel with the American Express Gold card to save money on hotels and airfares.

2. Apply for an American Express Gold business card online with personal and company information.

3. Plan events that woo clients with your American Express Gold business card.

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Use American Express Gold card member services to save money while traveling

American Express Gold business card offers you points that can be redeemed at more than 21 airlines. You can also book rooms at discount rates around the country.

I recommend: AMEX Gold Business card offers rewards at hotels that you and your clients book for business travel. Use Business Travel Logue to find accomodations based on hotel reward offerings or city. Dealigg shows you the best deals offered from AMEX, including discounts with Delta.

Buy theater tickets with American Express Gold Credit Card

The AMEX Gold card is your ticket into some of the hottest shows in town. Take clients to dinner and a show or reward your employees with a night out.

I recommend: Telecharge.com lists this month's theater offer. American Express Gold Card benefits include discounts off premium seating. Note the booking deadlines and other conditions. Broadwayworld.com allows you to buy tickets online, entering your AMEX Gold Card number for discounts.

Save money while taking prospective clients out on the town by using your AMEX Gold Card

The American Express Gold credit card gets you restaurant coupons including 10% to 25% off your bill, $20 off the total or buy one dinner entree and get one free.

I recommend: Take advantage of American Express Gold Card benefits at the American Express Offer Zone. American Express sells dining gift cards to Gold customers, which can be used anywhere American Express is accepted. They also come with special offers from participating restaurants.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take 15 minutes to fill out an online application for an American Express Gold Card. You can also check your application status online.

Getting an American Express Gold Card for your small business provides possibilities that grow as your business grows.

The American Express Business Gold Rewards Card program ranks high among all credit cards. Use the exclusive “OPEN for Business" program from American Express to gain resources that enhance running your business.

Enjoy American Express Gold Card benefits through the OPEN Savings program. This feature automatically comes with your card, offering discounts from well known companies in supplies and services, travel, dining and business building tools. Provide additional cards for employees, use online management that tracks charges through expense management reports and account summaries.

OPEN for Business features advice, business articles, and community resources where you can pose questions and get answers. The Business Gold Rewards Card designed for the small business offers these advantages:

1. Earn one point for each dollar spent.

2. Establish a line of credit through financial services.

3. Benefits and protection that goes beyond other cards with CreditSecure.

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Apply for an American Express Gold Credit Card to begin your benefits

The application returns a quick 60 second decision. Receive a one year complementary membership in the rewards program. There's no annual fee for the AMEX Gold Card during the first year and no finance charge on zero balances.

I recommend: The online application is quick and simple.

Enjoy membership rewards with your AMEX Gold Card program

First year Membership Rewards program is free for the Business Gold Rewards Card, a small yearly fee applies afterwards. Earn points for travel, office equipment, merchandise, gift cards and more. No expiration date for points and earn one point for each dollar spent.

I recommend: See Ideas and Inspiration for membership rewards. Look at some exclusive gifts with point values in Exclusives.

Apply for a line of credit with your American Express Gold Business Card

The AMEX gold card offers a $10,000 to $100,000 credit line with no collateral for a business over two years old. The company provides periodic reviews of your card usage to determine possible increases for your line of credit. An annual fee applies.

I recommend: Fill out a line of credit application at Business Line of Credit. View terms and conditions at American Express.

Choose additional products and services to protect and expand your financing

The American Express Gold Card benefits go beyond normal card service when you have the Gold Business Rewards card. Designed for the small business, obtain gift cards, traveler's checks, travel insurance, B2B directory and pay other bills. Upgrade online to receive CreditSecure with 24/7 access to Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.

I recommend: For details about each of these products and services go to Additional Products and Services. Apply for CreditSecure online for credit monitoring.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Special features available online through your American Express Gold Credit Card include card activity, PDF form billing statements and schedule future card payments.
• •  Download all financial activity and statements to Quicken or Microsoft Money software.
• •  Request paperless statements to avoid loss or stolen mail.
• •  Receive customer protection with customer service 24/7, return, purchase and emergency card protection with your American Express Gold Business card.
• •  Track Membership Rewards points or quickly redeem them and set your financial alerts and reminders.

The American Express Gold Card offers your business an unmatched level of privileges and rewards. As a member, you earn one membership reward point for every dollar you spend. Amex will give your business up to five additional credit cards free of charge. Plus, you're offered access to special events, concerts and shows all over the world.

The American Express Gold Business Card goes well beyond other credit cards. By becoming a member, your business will have many extras within reach. AMEX offers car damage insurance at no additional charge when you rent a car for a business trip, you can book a trip on your card and AMEX gives you and your family members travel accident insurance. And, don't worry about losing your luggage. Their baggage insurance plan will cover up to $500 per checked bag and $1250 for carry-on luggage.

1. Use the American Express Gold Card to impress clients with tickets to the top attractions.

2. Save money and travel with security when you book with your AMEX Gold card

3. Earn extra American Express Gold business card points to be redeemed for rewards.

Action Steps
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Apply for an American Express Gold Business Card

When you apply for an American Express Gold Business Card, you are signing up for a program that offers special savings, rewards and services. There's a members-only newsletter along with a website that explains everything the card offers your business.

I recommend: Use the online application for an American Express Gold Card. It requires your personal information, as well as employer's information and household income. CreditCards.com provides you with information on the AMEX Gold Card, as well as an opportunity to apply online.

Use Membership Rewards points to make most of the American Express Gold Card benefits

American Express Gold Credit Card offers exclusive access to hot concerts, theater performances and dining experiences. Simply earn points by spending money on your card, then redeem those points for rewards.

I recommend: Earn double points at close to 200 retailers by shopping at the American Express Bonus Points Mall. Techbargains is the place to go for AMEX Gold Business Card offers such as coupons and travel discounts.

Travel with an American Express Gold Credit Card

American Express Gold Card benefits allow you to earn twice as many Rewards Points when you fly for business and stay at hotels. During the first year of your company's membership, you'll receive double points. After that, it changes to 1.5 points per dollar spent. Travel agents are on call and members receive access to limited-time travel deals, competitive fares and emergency assistance. Your room reservations are guaranteed, too.

I recommend: The American Express Network allows you to check availability of feature offers online. Participate in HotelChatter, a forum that provides information on making the most of the American Express Gold Card when traveling.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you, your employees or your client ends up not being able to attend an event, the AMEX Gold Business Card even offers the Event Ticket Protection Plan.

The American Express Gold card is a prestigious and beneficial credit card for businesses to have. It makes purchases easier and more convenient while also offering a number of potential bonuses, rewards and advantages to those who utilize the card. However, as with any credit card, there are terms and conditions applicable to the American Express Gold card. In order to make the most of such credit cards while still protecting employees, cardholders and business entities, it is important to learn about key terms and concepts related to the American Express Gold card. Many of the important terms that could be confusing to users and applicants can be found in the terms and conditions of the credit card.

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Spending limit

The spending limit of a credit card refers to how much money can be charged to the card. This number also represents the maximum amount which can be held as the balance of the credit card. The American Express Gold card has a flexible spending limit, ideal for many businesses.

I recommend: To learn more about how spending limits for various American Express cards, including American Express Gold cards, are established, visit Money Under 30.

Purchase-protection plan

With the purchase-protection plan of American Express Gold cards, eligible purchases are protected from accidental damage or theft for as long as 90 days. This plan also offers refunds on purchased items that merchants decline to take back, up to $300 per item.

I recommend: Creditor Web discusses many of the benefits of the American Express Gold card, such as the purchase protection plan.

Online fraud protection guarantee

The online fraud protection guarantee does not hold clients responsible for unauthorized charges made online with the American Express card.

I recommend: American Express offers more details on its online fraud protection guarantee.

Annual fee

An annual fee, also referred to as the membership fee, is the amount of money the credit card company charges an individual in order to use the card.

I recommend: The annual fee for credit cards is defined at Business Dictionary.

Membership reward bonus points

Membership reward bonus points are incentives to use the American Express Gold card. For every purchase made, cardholders are given membership reward bonus points. These points can be redeemed for physical prizes or cash offerings, including, for example, gift cards to be used at participating retail merchants, restaurants and entertainment partners.

I recommend: Membership reward bonus points for American Express Gold cards are explored at Maximizing Money and Compare Cards.

Annual percentage rate, or APR

Abbreviated as APR, the annual percentage rate refers to the interest rate of the credit card and the purchases made on the card over the course of a year.

I recommend: Credit card APRs are discussed at Federal Reserve.