You're eligible to apply for the American Express Business Platinum Card if you're a US resident, 18 or older, and you run a business, and that includes a sole proprietorship or a side business, not only an LLC or corporation. As of September 26, 2026, Amex's application checklist says a sole proprietor doesn't need a federal tax ID; your Social Security Number or ITIN covers it. The harder question is the welcome offer, which Amex can refuse to anyone who has had this card before.

Here's what Amex's own pages say about who can apply, what the application asks for, who is on the hook for the balance, and how the welcome offer rules work. Everything below comes from the Business Platinum product page, its offer terms and Amex's small business guide, read on September 26, 2026.

The baseline rules for applying

The offer terms set three baseline rules. "Only qualified individuals 18 or over may be approved for a Card Account." The offer "is available to US Residents." And when you apply, you're "REPRESENTING THAT ALL CARD(S) ISSUED ON THE ACCOUNT WILL ONLY BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL OR BUSINESS PURPOSES." That last line is in capitals on Amex's page, and it's the real test. You need a business, and the card has to be for business spending.

What counts as a business is broader than many people assume. Amex's own small business guide, dated March 25, 2026, says "freelancers, self-employed individuals, and gig workers can also apply," and that "you could also qualify for a business credit card if you're operating as a sole proprietor." The same guide names LLCs, partnerships and corporations as business types that use these cards too. It gives examples ranging from "a college student offering landscaping services" to "the owner of a startup employing 50 people."

One caveat on that guide. It carries a note that it "contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express, or its products and services." So treat it as Amex's view of business cards in general. The Business Platinum's own checklist, covered next, is the card-specific source.

Do you need an EIN to get the Amex Business Platinum?

No, if you're a sole proprietor. The checklist on the Business Platinum page lists what to have ready before you apply. Under business information, it asks for a valid email address, your business structure, your annual business revenue and your federal tax ID, which it marks "Not applicable to Sole Proprietors."

Under personal information, it asks for your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and your total annual income. Amex adds that "additional information about yourself or the business may be requested prior to the completion of your application."

So a freelancer with no EIN applies with an SSN or ITIN and picks sole proprietor as the structure. An LLC or corporation would enter its federal tax ID. Revenue is whatever the business actually brings in, and a new side business can have modest numbers. Amex's general guide adds that issuers may ask for your business's "age," meaning how long it's been operating, so have that date ready too.

Answer honestly. Amex says you "promise that the information you provide on this application is accurate" and that you authorize it "to verify this information and to obtain reports from consumer and commercial reporting agencies."

You're personally liable for the balance

By submitting the application, you apply "as an individual and the Authorizing Officer of the Company," and you agree "to be jointly and severally liable with the Company for all charges to the account." In plain terms, if the business can't pay, Amex can come to you for the full balance.

You're also responsible for employee cards. The terms say you "must pay for all charges" that additional card members make. Amex allows up to 99 employee cards on the account; each Employee Business Platinum Card costs $400 a year, and Employee Business Expense Cards with no annual fee are also available. The primary card's annual fee is $895.

Does applying hurt your credit score?

Not your personal score, at least not until you accept the card. Amex's FAQ on the product page lays out three steps. When you apply, "there is no impact to your personal credit score at this stage, though there may be an impact to your business credit score." You then get a decision, still with no personal credit score impact. Only "if you're approved and choose to accept the Card, there may be an impact to your personal credit score."

That order matters. You see whether you're approved before anything touches your personal credit. Amex notes this process "may not be available if you leave the page and return later," so finish the application in one sitting.

The welcome offer is a separate test

This is where people get tripped up. Being approved for the card and being eligible for the welcome offer are separate questions.

The offer terms read: "You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or previous versions of this Card." That wording sets no time window, so a Business Platinum you closed years ago can still count. The terms also say you may be ineligible based on "your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors."

The good news: Amex tells you before it's too late. "If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application."

As of September 26, 2026, the offer itself is "as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards points" after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months. The exact number is personal. Amex says it will "tell you the exact amount" before approval, and that amount "may be less than 300,000." Other rules from the terms:

  1. Spending by employee card members on the same account counts toward the $20,000.
  2. Fees, interest, gift cards, prepaid cards, person-to-person payments and other cash equivalents don't count.
  3. It's "limit one offer per Card Account," and your account can't be canceled or past due when the points post.
  4. Points arrive 8 to 12 weeks after you hit the spend.
  5. Returning purchases you made to reach the threshold can cost you the points, and Amex "may also cancel any Card Accounts you have with us."

Amex also says offers "may vary and you may see different offers in different advertisements," and it can change or pull the offer at any time.

Deciding whether to apply

If you have a real business, even a sole proprietorship with an SSN, you meet the basic bar. Before applying, answer two things. First, can your business put $20,000 on the card in three months without buying anything it doesn't need? Second, have you ever held a Business Platinum? If so, expect the eligibility notice and be ready to withdraw rather than take the card without a bonus.

Our Amex Business Platinum review goes through every credit and whether the fee pays for itself. If the $895 fee or the spend looks too steep, our guide to points and miles for business owners compares Business Platinum with lower-fee cards from Chase and Amex. For the rest of the Amex business lineup, see our best Amex business cards breakdown. When you're ready, you can see the current Business Platinum offer and check your eligibility message before you commit.

This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.

Sources

  1. American Express, Business Platinum Card product page, application checklist and FAQ (read in a browser 2026-09-26)
  2. American Express, Business Platinum Card offer terms, rates and fees (read in a browser 2026-09-26)
  3. American Express Business Intel, Is a Business Credit Card Right for Your Business?, dated March 25, 2026 (read 2026-09-26)

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