American Express offers five distinct business credit cards in Canada, spanning a wide range of annual fees, rewards structures, and target audiences. From the $799 Business Platinum — one of the most feature-rich cards on the Canadian market — to the $99 Business Edge designed for everyday small business spending, there is an Amex product for nearly every business profile.
This review covers all five cards in depth, with verified data from official Amex Canada sources as of April 2026. We also address the key practical consideration that shapes every Amex business card decision: acceptance coverage.
The Five Amex Business Cards at a Glance
| Card | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Base Earn Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Platinum | $799 | Up to 120,000 MR points | 1.25x MR on all purchases | High-spend frequent travelers |
| Aeroplan Business Reserve | $599 | Up to 90,000 Aeroplan points | 3x/2x/1.25x Aeroplan | Air Canada loyalists |
| Business Gold Rewards | $199 | Up to 40,000 MR points | 1x MR + quarterly bonuses | High quarterly spenders |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business | $150 | Up to 110,000 Bonvoy points | 5x/3x/2x Bonvoy points | Hotel loyalists |
| Business Edge | $99 | Up to 67,000 MR points (yr 1) | 3x MR on essentials, 1x all else | Small businesses, everyday spend |
Business Platinum Card from American Express — $799/year
Who It Is For
The Amex Business Platinum is Canada's premium business charge card. It is built for businesses that spend heavily — typically $5,000 or more per month — and whose owners or executives travel frequently. The headline fee of $799 sounds steep, but the card's annual credits can offset most or all of that cost for businesses that use them actively.
Rewards
The earn rate is straightforward: 1.25 Membership Rewards points on every $1 spent across all purchases, with no category bonuses and no caps. Points never expire and transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan at 1:1, British Airways at 1:1, Marriott Bonvoy at 1:1.2, and several other airline and hotel programs. The welcome offer is up to 120,000 MR points — 80,000 after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months, plus 40,000 more when you make a purchase in months 15–17 of cardmembership.
Key Benefits
The Business Platinum's most compelling feature is its lounge access: complimentary, unlimited access to 1,400+ airport lounges in 140 countries through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of partner lounges globally. For business owners who spend significant time in airports, this benefit alone has a market value exceeding $500 per year.
Annual statement credits totalling approximately $1,060 include:
- $200 Annual Travel Credit on a single travel booking through AmexTravel
- $120 Annual Wireless Credit ($10/month at eligible Canadian wireless providers)
- $200 Dell Credit ($100 every 6 months at dell.com/en-ca; valid through December 31, 2026)
- $300 Indeed Credit ($75 every 3 months at ca.indeed.com; valid through December 31, 2026)
- $100 NEXUS Credit every 4 years for NEXUS application or renewal
At Toronto Pearson, cardholders access a Priority Security Lane, complimentary valet at Terminal 1, and discounts on parking and car care. Hotel benefits include Fine Hotels + Resorts access (1,600+ properties with guaranteed noon check-in, complimentary breakfast for two, room upgrade, and late 4pm check-out) and complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
Insurance
The Business Platinum carries among the most comprehensive insurance packages on any Canadian card: $5,000,000 emergency medical coverage (for cardholders under 65, for the first 15 days out of province), $1,500/person trip cancellation, up to $1,000 per person in flight delay coverage (after 4 hours), $1,500 mobile device insurance, and car rental damage protection on vehicles up to $85,000 MSRP for up to 48 consecutive rental days.
The Verdict
The Amex Business Platinum is not for every business. But for a company spending $8,000 or more per month with an owner who travels regularly, the combination of ~$1,060 in credits, unlimited lounge access, and 1.25x MR on all spend makes the $799 fee defensible — often advantageous.
American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card — $599/year
Who It Is For
The Aeroplan Business Reserve is purpose-built for businesses and executives who are Air Canada loyalists. If your business travel routes through Air Canada regularly — whether flying from Toronto Pearson to Vancouver, Montreal, or international destinations — this card accelerates both your Aeroplan earning and your in-airport experience significantly.
Rewards
The tiered earn structure prioritizes Air Canada spending: 3x Aeroplan points on purchases directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 2x on eligible hotel and car rental bookings (in Canada and through Amex Travel), and 1.25x on all other purchases. The welcome offer reaches up to 90,000 Aeroplan points — 65,000 after spending $10,500 in the first 3 months, and 25,000 more when you spend $3,500 in month 13.
Key Benefits
Unlike the Business Platinum's broad Global Lounge Collection access, the Aeroplan Reserve provides unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for the primary cardholder and one guest. For frequent Air Canada flyers, this is often preferable to generic partner lounges — Maple Leaf Lounges offer a consistently high quality experience.
Operational Air Canada benefits are extensive: a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, Zone 2 priority boarding, priority check-in, priority baggage handling, and priority airport standby. After spending $25,000 in a year, cardholders earn an Annual Worldwide Companion Pass from $99 (up to $599 value). Eligible purchases also accumulate Status Qualifying Credits — 1,000 SQC per $5,000 in net purchases — helping frequent flyers maintain or build Aeroplan Elite Status.
Insurance
The Aeroplan Reserve matches the Business Platinum's travel insurance depth: $5,000,000 emergency medical (under 65, first 15 days), $1,500/person trip cancellation and up to $6,000/trip interruption, $1,000/person flight delay coverage (after 4 hours), and $500,000 common carrier travel accident insurance.
The Verdict
At $599, the Aeroplan Business Reserve is a significant investment. It earns its keep for business owners and executives flying Air Canada four or more times per year. The Maple Leaf Lounge access, operational priority benefits, and Aeroplan accumulation at 1.25x base (3x on Air Canada) create a materially better Air Canada experience. For businesses that fly other airlines more often, the Business Platinum or Business Gold would be more versatile choices.
American Express Business Gold Rewards Card — $199/year
Who It Is For
The Business Gold sits in the mid-tier, designed for businesses that generate consistent quarterly spending of $20,000 or more. Its bonus structure rewards high-volume months rather than category-specific spending.
Rewards
The base earn rate is 1x Membership Rewards point per $1 spent on all purchases. The distinguishing feature is the quarterly bonus: for each calendar quarter in which you spend $20,000 on the card, you earn 10,000 bonus MR points — up to 40,000 bonus points per year. The welcome offer is 40,000 MR points after spending $7,500 in the first 3 months. Current limited-time credits include up to $100 at Dell Canada and $120 at Instacart.
The Verdict
The Business Gold is a strong value for businesses reliably spending $20,000+ per quarter. At that level, the 40,000 annual bonus points bring the effective earn rate well above 1x. Businesses with more variable spending — busy quarters followed by slow ones — may find the bonus difficult to maximize consistently and would be better served by the Business Edge's category bonuses or the Business Platinum's flat 1.25x across all spend.
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card — $150/year
Who It Is For
The Marriott Bonvoy Business is a niche card for businesses with significant hotel spending at Marriott-family properties — including Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, and more than 30 other brands under the Bonvoy umbrella.
Rewards
The earn structure is hotel-centric: 5x Marriott Bonvoy points at participating Marriott hotels, 3x on gas, dining, and travel purchases, and 2x on all other eligible purchases. The welcome offer can reach up to 110,000 Bonvoy points (offer valid until April 7, 2026) — 80,000 after spending $10,000 in net purchases in the first 6 months, plus 30,000 more when you make a purchase in month 15.
Key Benefits
An annual Free Night Award (up to 35,000 Bonvoy points in value) is issued after each card anniversary. At many Marriott properties in Canada, this award covers one full night, providing instant, tangible value that can easily cover the $150 fee. The card also provides automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, 15 Elite Night Credits per year (accelerating status qualification), and a path to Gold Elite status after spending $30,000 in a calendar year.
The Verdict
For businesses that regularly stay at Marriott properties, the combination of 5x points at hotels, an annual free night, and 15 Elite Night Credits makes the $150 fee straightforward to justify. For businesses without regular Marriott stays, the card is a weaker general-purpose option compared to the Business Edge or Business Gold.
American Express Business Edge Card — $99/year
Who It Is For
The Amex Business Edge is designed for small businesses and sole proprietors with everyday business spending concentrated in common categories. At $99 per year, it is the most accessible Amex business card and the easiest to justify for businesses just starting to optimize their card rewards.
Rewards
The 3x MR category rate covers a broad set of everyday business categories: office supply retailers, electronics retailers, stand-alone gas stations, local transit (subway, streetcar, taxi, rideshare), restaurants, quick service restaurants, coffee shops, drinking establishments, and food delivery services. The combined cap is 75,000 points per year at the 3x rate. All other purchases earn 1x MR with no cap. The welcome offer can reach up to 67,000 MR points in the first year through a combination of an initial bonus (45,000 points after $5,000 in the first 3 months), a monthly spend bonus (1,000 points per month you spend $3,000), and an elevated earn on business essentials for the first 6 months.
Key Benefits
Up to 99 additional employee cards at $0 per year makes this card exceptionally generous for businesses with staff who need purchasing cards. All employee spend earns MR points that pool with the primary account. Business and expense management tools are included. Insurance covers car rental theft and damage, mobile device protection (up to $1,000 per device), purchase protection (90 days), and extended warranty (1 additional year). Note: the Business Edge does not include emergency medical travel insurance — a meaningful distinction from the Business Platinum and Aeroplan Reserve.
The Verdict
The Amex Business Edge delivers excellent value for its price. For a business spending $3,000–$5,000 per month across its bonus categories, the 3x MR earn rate plus the generous welcome offer make it a standout entry-level card. As the business grows and travel spending increases, it can be supplemented or replaced by a higher-tier Amex card without disrupting the MR points already accumulated.
The Amex Acceptance Question
No review of Amex business cards would be complete without addressing acceptance. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at virtually every Canadian retailer, restaurant, and supplier. American Express acceptance is broader than it has ever been in Canada, particularly at national chains, major retailers, and online merchants — but it remains less universal than Visa or Mastercard at smaller independent businesses and some trade suppliers.
For businesses with spending concentrated at large vendors, online platforms, and national chains, Amex acceptance is rarely a practical limitation. For businesses with significant spending at local independent suppliers, tradespeople, or certain wholesalers, this is worth testing before committing.
A common approach for Amex cardholders is to use their Amex card as the primary card for all purchases where it is accepted, and carry a no-fee Visa or Mastercard as a backup. For Markham businesses, the BMO CashBack Business Mastercard at $0 is a practical companion card for this purpose.
Which Amex Business Card Should You Choose?
- You spend $8,000+/month and travel frequently: Business Platinum ($799)
- You fly Air Canada 4+ times per year: Aeroplan Business Reserve ($599)
- You spend $20,000+ per quarter consistently: Business Gold Rewards ($199)
- You stay at Marriott hotels regularly: Marriott Bonvoy Business ($150)
- You are a small business with everyday spend in the bonus categories: Business Edge ($99)
All five Amex business cards participate in either the Membership Rewards or a hotel/airline loyalty program — and they are all issued by the same institution, making it straightforward to hold multiple Amex cards and direct spending strategically. Many established Canadian businesses carry both the Business Platinum and the Business Edge, using the Edge for category-bonus purchases and the Platinum for all other spending.
Data Verification: All card details, fees, and reward structures in this article were verified against official issuer websites as of April 2026. We conduct routine data checks to ensure accuracy. Card terms and offers can change at any time — always confirm current details directly with the card issuer before applying.
For more business resources and local guides across Markham and Richmond Hill, visit MarkhamBusiness.com.