How to best use an American Express in your business
Linking your Amex to B2Bpay lets you pay every business expense on American Express, even where Amex isn't accepted, earn full card points on the ATO and government bills, pay with Membership Rewards points and earn Qantas Points.
Pay every business expense on Amex, in one place
Short answer: Link your American Express card to B2Bpay and you can pay all your business expenses with Amex, even when the business you're paying doesn't accept it. B2Bpay acts as the middle man and pays your supplier by EFT or BPAY, so you earn rewards wherever you spend, including Qantas Points that help you fly for free.
Did you know that spending on Amex can earn you more points through B2Bpay? Here's how to use American Express to benefit your business.
Using Amex for your small business
American Express cards give small and medium businesses a lot of freedom. Like other business credit cards, Amex lets you smooth out cash flow, make large purchases and manage your expenses.
Business credit cards matter for small businesses because they give you access to finance when you can't get a loan. Using the interest-free period, you get short-term working capital that gives your business more room to grow.
American Express is a strong option because it is widely accepted and gives you rewards when you spend. Amex Membership Rewards can earn you benefits for travel, shopping and more.
Earning Qantas Frequent Flyer Points through B2Bpay is just one way Amex users benefit from running all their expenses through their business card. You also get the rest of B2Bpay's benefits, set out below.
Can I use Amex to generate rewards?
Yes. Benefits of spending with Amex include:
- Better exchange rates on international purchases
- Rewards for buying technology, including hardware, software and cloud solutions
- Travel rewards, such as lounge access
Whether you travel for business or for yourself, Qantas Frequent Flyer Points are a big benefit for business owners. Every time you spend and receive money through B2Bpay, you can earn Qantas Points that open up a huge range of rewards: discounts on flights, hotel upgrades, deals on luggage and more.
If you travel a lot, Qantas Points are an easy way to improve cash flow. Rather than spending money on flights and hotels that you could put back into your business, you can use points instead, or combine points and payment to plan your dream trip.
Points earning on Amex cards usually comes with restrictions, not least because not everywhere accepts Amex. With B2Bpay, you can earn rewards even at businesses that don't accept Amex, or where you would otherwise earn reduced points.
Can I use Amex with B2Bpay?
Yes. B2Bpay has partnered with American Express to bring your business more rewards than ever. You can earn points wherever you spend, and you can earn more of them.
- Full points on government bills and the ATO. When you pay government bills and the ATO through B2Bpay, you earn the full amount of credit card points your Amex entitles you to. See full points for paying the ATO.
- No cap on rewards points. B2Bpay does not cap your rewards points.
If you want to earn the maximum points on your business expenses, pairing your Amex business card with B2Bpay is the obvious choice.
Can I pay with Amex points?
Yes. If you are a B2Bpay customer and an American Express Card Member, you can 'Pay with Points' when you pay your bills. Use your Membership Rewards points to pay taxes, invoices, rent, utilities and more, either with points only or with a combination of points plus payment.
Paying with points lets you:
- Improve cash flow by using Amex points instead of cash
- Put points to use even if you're not planning to travel
- Earn more points on every bill you pay, including the amount you pay with existing points
Your customers can pay your invoices with their own Membership Rewards points too. A wider range of payment options gives your business more flexibility and helps your invoices get paid faster. See Pay with Points for billers.
Qantas Points you can earn through B2Bpay
You earn Qantas Points on several payment types:
| Payment | Qantas Points earned |
|---|---|
| Paid by card to the ATO | 1 point for every $7 Rates at time of publishing (2022). See current rates. |
| Paid by card to other billers | 1 point for every $10 Rates at time of publishing (2022). See current rates. |
| Paid to B2Bpay Bonus Billers | Up to 3 points per $1.50 |
Rates as set out in clause 9.2 of the B2Bpay Terms & Conditions, which also lists 1 Qantas Point per $3 paid to billers by bank account. Qantas Points require a Qantas Business Rewards membership for your ABN; the usual join fee is waived when you join through B2Bpay's link. B2Bpay also offers B2B Points, which convert to the reward partner of your choice. Rates at time of publishing (2022). See current rates.
Why choose B2Bpay?
With B2Bpay you get more than points for every dollar you spend on Amex. You also get a secure payment provider that lets you manage all your finances in one place.
- Maximum points on government payments. Paying government bodies directly with Amex can earn limited points. Paying through B2Bpay earns maximum points every time, which makes it one of the most effective ways to improve cash flow.
- Two kinds of rewards. You earn Amex Membership Rewards points and Qantas Frequent Flyer Points.
- Works with your accounting software. B2Bpay works seamlessly with QuickBooks, Xero and MYOB, so you can set up easily and start earning straight away. See the integration FAQs.
- Earn on what you spend and receive. Once you're set up, you earn points every time you spend and receive payments, and keep earning full card points on government bills and utilities.
All you need to get started is an Amex business card and a B2Bpay account.
How to use Amex with B2Bpay
Making payments with B2Bpay and Amex is simple:
- Register for B2BpayLink it to your other accounts, including Xero and MYOB.
- Add your billersAdd billers to your account using their BPAY Biller Code.
- Pay with American ExpressOr use the points you've earned to pay your bills.
- Earn pointsEarn points for every dollar you spend.
- Spend your rewardsUse your Qantas Points or Amex Membership Rewards points however you choose.
When it's this easy, it's hard to say no. Sign up today to earn the maximum number of points on every business expense.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay a supplier with Amex if they don't accept Amex?
Yes. You pay B2Bpay with your Amex, and B2Bpay pays the supplier by bank transfer or BPAY within 3 business days, so nothing changes on the supplier's side. See pay Amex where Amex is not accepted.
Do I earn full Membership Rewards points through B2Bpay?
Yes. Payments made through B2Bpay earn Membership Rewards points at your card's standard rate, subject to American Express's terms for your card. B2Bpay does not cap or reduce them.
What does it cost to pay with Amex through B2Bpay?
Amex platform fees are 2.10% Essential, 3.40% Earn Plus and 3.85% Earn Max ex GST, tiered down as annual Amex volume grows, to 1.90% on Essential above $1,000,000 a year. See pricing. The exact rate is shown before you confirm each payment.
Can I pay the ATO with Amex through B2Bpay?
Yes. B2Bpay pays the ATO by bank transfer using your payment reference number, and you earn the full card points your Amex entitles you to. See pay BAS by credit card.
Which accounting software does B2Bpay work with?
Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks. See the integration FAQs.
Put every business expense on your Amex
Pay suppliers, the ATO and rent by card and keep the cash for up to 55 days.