AMEX Platinum Business Review 2026: Is the €850 Card Worth It?

Quick answer: The highest welcome bonus in Germany: 200,000 MR points. The AMEX Platinum Business (€850/year) pays off in the very first year with ~€2,700 in value. Priority Pass + LH Lounge + hotel Gold status (Marriott/Hilton/Radisson). €200 travel + €200 SIXT credit. Tax-deductible. Combo tip: Business Platinum + Gold Personal = 250,000 MR.

200,000 Membership Rewards points welcome bonus. That’s not a typo. The AMEX Platinum Business offers the highest welcome bonus of any credit card in Germany - and by a wide margin.

But is an €850 annual fee worth it? In this review I’ll show you what the card can do, who it pays off for - and why the welcome bonus alone justifies applying.

AMEX Platinum Business at a glance

Feature	Value
Annual fee	€850
Welcome bonus	200,000 MR points
Spend requirement	€15,000 in 6 months
Earn rate	1 MR per euro (1.5 MR with Turbo for €15/year)
Priority Pass	Prestige tier (value: €459)
Lufthansa Lounges	Included worldwide
Centurion Lounges	Yes
Hotel status	Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold
Travel credit	€200 per year
SIXT ride credit	€200 per year
Sixt+ car subscription credit	€240 per year
Dell Technologies credit	€200 per year
eBüro credit	€300 per year
Office Club credit	€300 per year
Total annual credits	€1,440
Travel insurance	Up to €10 million
Fine Hotels & Resorts	Yes
Platinum Plus card	Included (plastic card for personal spending)
Additional Business card	Free (own Priority Pass)
Requirement	Self-employment or company

Important: The AMEX Platinum comes in personal and business versions. This article covers the Business card (€850). The personal version* costs €720, but has “only” an 85,000 MR welcome bonus.

What you get: The AMEX Platinum Business arrives as a metal card by courier. You also receive a Platinum Plus - a personal plastic card that lets you cleanly separate business and personal spending. Both cards earn into the same MR account.

The welcome bonus: 200,000 MR points

200,000 Membership Rewards points are the main reason this card exists. What can you do with them?

Redemption option	Value
Transfer to British Airways (Avios)	160,000 Avios = Business Class USA round trip
Transfer to Singapore Airlines	160,000 KrisFlyer = Business Class Singapore round trip
Transfer to Flying Blue	160,000 miles = Business Class Asia (promo)
First Class one-way	Enough for LH First Class NYC one-way (via partner)
Hotels (Hilton)	200,000 Hilton points = 3-5 nights

The best value lies in airline transfers: 200,000 MR are enough for a Business Class flight to New York and back or even First Class one-way to Asia. These are tickets that cost €4,000-8,000 in cash.

All redemption options in detail: AMEX redeem points: The complete guide

How to hit the €15,000 spend requirement

€15,000 in 6 months sounds like a lot. But as a self-employed person it’s often easier than you’d think (€2,500/month):

• Business expenses: Software subscriptions, advertising, office supplies, travel costs
• Reroute recurring expenses: Rent, insurance, electricity, internet, phone
• Planned investments: Put hardware, furniture, training into the first 6 months
• Advance tax payments: If possible by credit card
• Everyday spending: Supermarket, gas station, online shopping

Tip: As a self-employed person with business expenses, you’ll often hit the €15,000 faster than expected. Add up your monthly business spending - many people are surprised.

Pro tip: How to pay rent, insurance and practically all recurring expenses by credit card - and earn points doing it - is something we walk you through step by step in the Premium Handbook.

AMEX Platinum Business costs: Is the €850 annual fee worth it?

€850 is the highest annual fee of any German credit card. But the math is clear.

The math in the first year

Item	Value
Welcome bonus (200,000 MR)	€2,000-4,000 (with Business/First Class redemption)
Priority Pass Prestige	€459
Annual credits (travel, SIXT, Dell, eBüro etc.)	€1,440
Hotel status (Marriott + Hilton Gold)	~€350
Travel insurance	~€100-200
Total (1st year)	€4,350-6,450
Less annual fee	€3,500-5,600 profit

In the first year the math is absurdly positive thanks to the welcome bonus. The €1,440 in credits alone already significantly exceeds the €850 annual fee.

From the second year on

Without the welcome bonus, what remains:

Benefit	Value per year
Priority Pass Prestige	€459
Annual credits (travel, SIXT, Dell, eBüro etc.)	€1,440
Marriott Gold status	~€200 (upgrades, breakfast)
Hilton Gold status	~€150 (upgrades, breakfast)
Travel insurance	~€100-200
Total	~€2,350-2,450
Less annual fee	~€1,500-1,600 profit

Even from the second year on the card pays off clearly - if you actively use the credits. The €1,440 in credits alone cover the €850 annual fee. If you only fly 1-2 times a year and don’t need the business credits, consider the AMEX Platinum Personal* (€720) or AMEX Gold* (€240).

Lounge access: Priority Pass + Lufthansa

Lounge access is identical to the personal Platinum:

Priority Pass Prestige

Detail	Value
Tier	Prestige (value: €459/year)
Lounges worldwide	1,800+ in 146 countries
Free visits	50 per year
Guests	1 guest free (counts as a visit)
Additional card	Own Priority Pass included

Lufthansa Lounge access (exclusive)

In addition to Priority Pass, the AMEX Platinum Business grants direct access to all Lufthansa Lounges worldwide - regardless of ticket class:

Ticket class	Lounge access
Economy	Lufthansa Business Lounge
Business	Lufthansa Senator Lounge
First	Lufthansa First Class Lounge

This solves the biggest problem of Priority Pass in Germany: there are no Priority Pass lounges at Frankfurt Terminal 1 and Munich Terminal 2. With the Platinum you still get into the Lufthansa Lounges.

Restriction: Lufthansa Lounge access applies only to the cardholder themselves - no companions. For your partner you need the free additional card.

Everything about lounges in Germany: The complete Lounge Guide 2026

Hotel status: Automatically Gold

The AMEX Platinum Business automatically brings Gold status at three major hotel chains:

Marriott Bonvoy Gold

Benefit	Details
Room upgrade	To a better category (subject to availability)
Bonus points	25% extra on hotel stays
Late check-out	Until 2:00 PM
Welcome Gift	250-500 bonus points

Hilton Honors Gold

Benefit	Details
Room upgrade	To a better category (subject to availability)
Breakfast	Free at all Hilton brands
Bonus points	80% extra on hotel stays
Late check-out	Guaranteed

The Hilton Gold breakfast is especially valuable. At many Hilton hotels breakfast costs €25-35 per person per day. For 3 nights for two people you save €150-210 - through status alone.

Radisson Rewards Gold

Benefit	Details
Room upgrade	Subject to availability
Bonus points	20% extra
Late check-out	Until 2:00 PM

Especially relevant for business travelers: Anyone who regularly stays in hotels recovers a large part of the annual fee through the hotel benefits alone.

Annual credits: Recover over €1,400

The AMEX Platinum Business offers considerably more credits than the personal version - and that’s the biggest difference:

Credit	Amount per year
Travel credit (airlines)	€200
SIXT ride (chauffeur service)	€200
Sixt+ (car subscription)	€240
Dell Technologies	€200
eBüro (office supplies)	€300
Office Club (office supplies)	€300
Total	€1,440

Travel credit (€200)

Reimburses your airline purchases: flight tickets, seat upgrades, baggage fees, onboard purchases.

SIXT ride (€200)

Credit for SIXT’s chauffeur service. Especially handy for business airport transfers.

Additional business credits (€1,040)

The remaining credits are exclusive to the business version and don’t exist on the personal Platinum:

• Sixt+ (€240): Credit for SIXT’s car subscription
• Dell Technologies (€200): For hardware and tech purchases
• eBüro (€300): For office supplies and equipment
• Office Club (€300): For office supplies and equipment

Together: €1,440 in credits significantly exceeds the €850 annual fee. The card finances itself through the credits alone - if you use them.

Insurance: Comprehensive travel protection

Insurance	Coverage
Trip cancellation insurance	Up to €10,000 per trip
International health insurance	Up to €10 million
Baggage insurance	For loss or damage
Flight delay insurance	From 4 hours delay
Rental car insurance	Full coverage with no deductible
Smartphone insurance	For theft or damage

For business travelers: International health insurance with coverage up to €10 million saves you a separate policy. Especially relevant if you frequently travel outside the EU.

Business features: What the personal card doesn’t have

Besides the higher welcome bonus, the business version offers real advantages for everyday business:

Platinum Plus card: Metal + plastic

The AMEX Platinum Business comes with two cards: the main metal card for business spending and the Platinum Plus - a personal plastic card. With it you cleanly separate business and personal spending, but earn into the same MR account. The Platinum Plus is only available with the business version, not the personal Platinum.

getmyinvoice: Automatic receipt capture

The AMEX Platinum Business is compatible with getmyinvoice - a service that automatically collects, digitizes and transfers invoices and receipts into your accounting system. For self-employed people who would otherwise laboriously type out their receipts by hand, an enormous time-saver.

Fully tax-deductible

The entire €850 annual fee is deductible as a business expense. At a marginal tax rate of 42% you save €357 - the effective fee drops to ~€493 before credits.

Separate business billing

All transactions run through a separate business account. This simplifies bookkeeping and cleanly separates business from personal spending.

Additional employee cards

You can request free additional cards for employees. The transactions run through your account and earn MR points - perfect for teams with travel expenses.

Earning points in everyday business

Variant	MR per euro
Without Turbo	1 MR
With Turbo (€15/year)	1.5 MR

As a self-employed person, you often have higher monthly expenses than private individuals. That shows when earning:

Monthly business spend	MR per year	Value
€2,000	24,000 MR	~€240-480
€3,000	36,000 MR	~€360-720
€5,000	60,000 MR	~€600-1,200
€10,000	120,000 MR	~€1,200-2,400

At €5,000 in monthly business spending you earn 60,000 MR per year from card spending alone. Together with the welcome bonus, that’s 260,000 MR in the first year - enough for a First Class to Asia.

AMEX Platinum Business vs. Personal

Feature	Platinum Business (€850)	Platinum Personal (€720)
Annual fee	€850	€720
Welcome bonus	200,000 MR	85,000 MR
Spend requirement	€15,000 in 3 mo.	€10,000 in 3 mo.
MR earn rate	1x (1.5x with Turbo)	1x (1.5x with Turbo)
Punkteturbo	€15/year (optional)	€15/year (optional)
Annual credits	€1,440	€400
Platinum Plus (plastic)	Included	No
Requirement	Self-employment	Private individual
Lounges	Identical	Identical
Hotel status	Identical	Identical
Insurance	Identical	Identical

Why Business instead of Personal?

The differences go far beyond the welcome bonus:

1. 200,000 vs. 85,000 MR welcome bonus - 115,000 MR more (value €1,150-2,300)
2. €1,440 vs. €400 credits - Over €1,000 more per year (Sixt+, Dell, eBüro, Office Club)
3. Platinum Plus card - Personal plastic card included (only with Business)
4. getmyinvoice - Automatic receipt capture for accounting
5. Fully tax-deductible - €850 as a business expense (effectively ~€493 at a 42% marginal tax rate)
6. Employee cards - Free additional cards for your team

For €130 more in annual fee you get over €2,000 more in value plus real business tools. The math is clear: if you meet the requirement (self-employment), take the business version.

More on the personal card: AMEX Platinum Review 2026

Drawbacks of the AMEX Platinum Business

1. Highest annual fee

€850 is a statement. Anyone who doesn’t use the benefits ends up losing money.

2. High spend requirement

You first have to manage €15,000 in 6 months. Without business expenses that’s difficult.

3. Self-employment required

The card is only open to the self-employed, freelancers and business owners. Employees need the personal version*.

4. Charge card

Like all AMEX cards: the entire balance is debited at the end of the month. No installment payments.

5. Limited AMEX acceptance

Not every merchant accepts AMEX. A Visa/Mastercard as backup is a must. The Miles & More credit card (Mastercard) is ideal for this.

Who is the AMEX Platinum Business worth it for?

Yes, the card is worth it for you if:

• You are self-employed or a business owner
• You can spend €15,000 in 6 months through the business
• You want the 200,000 MR welcome bonus (the highest in Germany)
• You travel regularly (lounges, hotels, insurance)
• You bill business trips through the card

No, the card is NOT worth it if:

• You are an employee (take the personal version)
• You rarely travel (fewer than 2 flights per year)
• You won’t reach the €15,000 (better the AMEX Business Gold* with only a €10,000 requirement for 75,000 MR)
• You primarily want to earn points without travel extras (AMEX Gold is enough)

The alternative: AMEX Business Gold

For self-employed people with a smaller budget, the AMEX Business Gold* is a strong alternative:

Feature	Platinum Business (€850)	Business Gold (€175)
Welcome bonus	200,000 MR	75,000 MR
Spend requirement	€15,000	€10,000
Priority Pass	50 visits	No
Hotel status	Gold	No
Annual credits	€1,440	No

More on this: AMEX Business Gold Review 2026

How to apply for the AMEX Platinum Business

1. Apply online - Takes about 10-15 minutes, have your company details ready
2. Confirm your identity - Via video ident or PostIdent
3. Receive your cards - Metal card (Business) + Platinum Plus (plastic, personal) by courier in 5-7 business days
4. Activate Priority Pass - In the AMEX app or online
5. Link hotel status - In the AMEX app under “Benefits”

Tip: Apply for the card via a referral link to secure the full 200,000 MR welcome bonus.

Apply for the AMEX Platinum Business*

[TIP] How many miles do you earn with the Platinum Business? Our earn calculator calculates, based on your monthly spending, how many miles and points you earn per year — personalized for 8 credit cards.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is the AMEX Platinum Business worth it?

Yes, especially in the first year. The 200,000 MR welcome bonus is worth €2,000-4,000 with Business Class redemption - against an €850 annual fee. On top of that come annual credits of €1,440 (travel, SIXT, Dell, eBüro, Office Club), lounge access and hotel status.

What does the AMEX Platinum Business cost?

The AMEX Platinum Business costs €850 per year. However, it offers annual credits worth €1,440 (travel, SIXT ride, Sixt+, Dell, eBüro, Office Club). If you use all the credits, the card finances itself completely.

Do I need a business to get the AMEX Platinum Business?

You need self-employment, a trade or a company. Freelancers and small business owners are also eligible. Employees can apply for the personal version* (€720, 85,000 MR).

How do I reach the €15,000 spend requirement?

Through business expenses (software, advertising, travel), rerouted recurring expenses (rent, insurance) and planned investments in the first 6 months. €2,500 per month is achievable for many self-employed people through business expenses alone.

AMEX Platinum Business or Personal?

The Business card (€850, 200,000 MR) is worth it if you’re self-employed. The welcome bonus is more than twice as high as on the personal card, the credits are €1,440 instead of €400, and you get the Platinum Plus card for personal spending included - for only €130 more in annual fee.

Which lounges can I visit?

Identical to the personal Platinum: over 1,800 Priority Pass lounges worldwide (50 visits), all Lufthansa Business Lounges (with an economy ticket) and exclusive Centurion Lounges.

Can I deduct the annual fee for tax purposes?

Yes, as a business expense. The €850 annual fee is fully deductible if the card is used for business. The transactions also run through the business account.

What happens if I give up my self-employment?

You can keep the card as long as you pay the annual fee. Alternatively, you switch to the personal version*. Transfer your MR points to an airline partner beforehand if you cancel.

Conclusion: The strongest credit card in Germany - for the self-employed

The AMEX Platinum Business is the credit card with the highest welcome bonus in Germany. 200,000 MR points, plus lounge access, hotel status, €1,440 in credits and the Platinum Plus card for personal spending - for the self-employed there’s nothing better.

My tip: Apply for the card for the welcome bonus and use the first year to get to know the benefits. In the first year the ROI is guaranteed positive thanks to the 200,000 MR points.

If you’re not self-employed: The AMEX Platinum Personal* offers the same benefits for €720 - with an 85,000 MR welcome bonus.

Apply for the AMEX Platinum Business*

Further reading:

• AMEX Platinum Personal Review 2026 - The version for employees
• AMEX redeem points: Transfer partners & value - How to get the most out of 200,000 MR
• Business Class with miles - Your first award flight

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The AMEX Platinum Business is the centerpiece of any miles strategy for the self-employed. In the Premium Handbook you’ll find the complete 6-month plan: how to optimally combine the Platinum Business, a Miles & More card and the PAYBACK AMEX to earn over 500,000 points in the first year.