WHY THE $895 FEE IS WORTH IT ON THE AMEX BUSINESS PLATINUM... AND WHY I GOT A SECOND CARD.
- Sep 19, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
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I was this close to canceling my Amex Business Platinum Card.
The annual fee was already high – and then Amex announced they were increasing it again. At first, I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t using every benefit, and I knew better than to justify a card just to “get my money’s worth.”
Let me be super clear:
If you’re forcing yourself to use benefits just because they exist, that’s not strategy – that’s bad financial management. Every card you open should align with spending you already make, not spending you go out of your way to do.
So why didn’t I just cancel?
Why did I not only keep the card… but actually open a second one and take on another $895 annual fee?
Because when I ran the numbers with the new updates – the math made total sense for me.
Here’s why 👇
1. The 200,000 Point Welcome Bonus
Amex is currently offering 200k points for opening a new Business Platinum and hitting the minimum spend.
For me, that’s not just a number. That’s 2 roundtrip business class flights to Japan worth well over $10,000 in value when booked strategically.
And I already had some large purchases lined up (hint: Alaska Cruise), so hitting the spend requirement was no problem.
2. The New $600 FHR Credit Is a Huge Win
I already max out the $200 FHR (Fine Hotels + Resorts) credit on my personal Platinum card every year – so seeing this benefit added to the Business Platinum card too? I was jumping for joy tbh.
That alone added $600 in value to a card I was on the fence about.
Yes, hotel prices in the FHR portal can be inflated. But if you know what to look for (and I do), this benefit can stretch far – especially when you stack it with things like:
Free breakfast
Room upgrades
Early check-in/late checkout
Property credits
I use FHR strategically to turn a luxury stay into a whole experience. One recent example was paying $300 out-of-pocket for two nights at the Four Seasons in Vegas with room upgrade, free breakfast, restaurant/spa credit, and more!
3. $200 Airline Fee Credit – Easy Win
I use this every year to add funds to my United Travel Bank, which I can then use for:
Short haul domestic flights
Paid bookings to stack with point redemptions
It’s simple, it’s effective, and it’s money I would have spent anyway.
4. $200 Hilton Statement Credit
You already know I’m obsessed with Conrad and Waldorf Astoria properties.
Amex and Hilton are besties – especially because Amex transfers to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio (aka double value). But now this card also gives me $200 a year to put toward properties I already stay at?
Yes, please.
This credit is automatic, easy to use, and lets me save on places I’d already be booking – no brainpower required. It's like a free dinner every time.
5. $250 Adobe Credit
As a business owner and content creator, I use Adobe tools daily – Lightroom, Acrobat, you name it.
I’ve been paying for it out of pocket for years, so this credit basically pays me back for something I already do. Win-win.
Now I just need to figure out how to double dip that credit across both cards. 🤓
6. $10/Month Wireless Credit
Everyone has a phone bill. That’s $120/year just handed back to me – and I’ll take it.
Total Value Breakdown (Year 1):
✈️ Flights from 200k welcome bonus: $10,000+
🏨 $600 FHR credit
💻 $250 Adobe statement credit
📱 $120 wireless bill credit
🏨 $200 Hilton hotel credit
✈️ $200 airline fee credit
Total: $11,370+ in value
Even after the $895 annual fee, I’m still coming out over $10,000 ahead – and that’s not even counting the lounge access, protections, or other built-in perks.
This isn’t hypothetical – it’s based on my personal experience using the exact strategies I teach.
If you already know how to maximize points, you get it – this is totally doable.
But if you’re looking at these numbers thinking “No way…”
Let’s chat. I’d love to prove you wrong 😉
Final Thoughts
I didn’t open a second Amex Business Platinum card to flex.
I did it because it fit my spending, and it gave me back way more than it cost.
If you’re someone who’s been thinking about getting more serious with points – especially for business or content-related expenses – this card (used right) can open some major doors.
Plus, it's instant ROI with the 200k bonus!
Let the points work for you. Not the other way around.
(NO-RISK APPLICATION PROCESS - NO CREDIT CHECK UNLESS YOU'RE APPROVED)
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