Capital on Tap vs Amex Business Gold: Which Is Best For Your Business?

Whether the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card or Amex Business Gold is right for you depends entirely on your business needs and how you prefer to earn rewards. Capital on Tap is built for UK SMEs that require high credit limits (up to £250,000), zero FX fees, and immediate cashback, whereas Amex Business Gold offers a rewards-centric model with a range of redemption options through Membership Rewards.

As a small business owner, finding the right financial tools is a major step toward making running a business easier. Whether you are looking for a way to manage daily cash flow or want to earn rewards on every pound you spend, the card you choose matters. This guide compares two of the top UK business credit cards to help you find the perfect fit for your company’s needs.

Credit card vs charge card

Before looking at the features, it is important to understand that these products use different financial models.

• Capital on Tap Business Credit Card: This is a traditional credit card. You have a set credit limit (up to £250,000) and the flexibility to either pay your balance in full or carry it over to the next month by making a minimum payment. For businesses that may need to carry a balance, the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card offers interest rates as low as 15.5% APR (variable). 

• Amex Business Gold: This is a charge card, meaning the balance must be paid in full every month. However, as of 2026, it now includes a Flexible Payment Option, allowing you to carry a balance up to a pre-set limit with interest, while anything above that limit must still be settled monthly. 

Comparing the core features

Before diving into the details, it is helpful to see how these two cards stack up side-by-side. While both offer rewards and expense management tools, their structures differ significantly.

Rewards and bonuses

Sign-on and referral bonuses are a great way to give your business a boost from day one.

• Capital on Tap Pro: New customers receive 10,000 bonus points when they spend £5,000 on their card in the first 3 months. This is worth £100 in cashback or can be converted into 10,000 Avios or Virgin Points.

• Capital on Tap Free & Pro: You can earn a 7,500 point referral bonus for every successful business referral you make, with no limit on how many friends you can invite.

• Amex Business Gold: Offers vary throughout the year, but typically include a 9,000 point referral bonus for successful invites.

Employee cards

Empowering your team to handle their own expenses makes running a business easier and saves you from a mountain of petty cash receipts.

• Capital on Tap Free & Pro: You can create unlimited, free employee cards for your team. You retain full control with real-time spend limits and instant freeze options in the app.

• Amex Business Gold: You can add up to 20 complimentary employee cards to your account. Additional cards beyond this limit may incur a fee.

Accounting integrations 

Automation is the key to efficient bookkeeping. Both providers offer integrations, but the breadth of support varies.

• Capital on Tap Free & Pro: Offers seamless, direct integrations with the UK’s most popular platforms: Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and FreeAgent.

• Amex Business Gold: Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero, as well as enterprise-level tools like SAP Concur, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Rydoo, and Emburse.

How rewards and cashback work

One of the most common questions is: do all business credit cards offer cashback? The answer is no. While some cards offer direct cash rebates, others use points systems that can be redeemed for various perks.

Capital on Tap rewards

With the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card, you earn an uncapped 1% cashback on all business spending. This means if you spend £10,000 a month on stock, utilities, or marketing, you get £100 back. You can redeem rewards points for cash, use them to pay down your balance, purchase gift cards, or convert points to Avios, Virgin Points or Radisson Rewards points if you prefer travel rewards.

For businesses looking to maximise their return, Capital on Tap’s Pro tier offers 1.25% cashback on all preloaded spend and daily repayments. That means that the same £10,000 you spend in a month gets you £125 back. 

Amex Business Gold rewards

Amex uses the Membership Rewards program. You earn 1 point for every £1 spent, or 2 points for every £1 spent directly with American Express Travel. You can redeem points for travel bookings, retail gift cards, or a statement credit to help pay your bill. You can also transfer points to frequent traveller partners like British Airways or Marriott Bonvoy, though minimum transfer amounts and specific increments apply.

Additional features 

Beyond the core financial metrics of interest rates and cashback, the overall value of a business card is supported by a series of secondary benefits. These features are designed to protect your purchases, simplify your administrative tasks, and provide expert support when your business needs it most.

Offers and partner discounts

Partner offers can provide additional value beyond your standard rewards. These are usually accessed through your online account portal.

• Capital on Tap: Customers get access to exclusive discounts and cashback on popular business services, including software subscriptions, business insurance, and accountancy tools.

• Amex Business Gold: Includes specific annual statement credits and discounts at a range of popular brands. 

Please note that offers are subject to change and terms apply.

Customer service

When you have a business to run, knowing how and when you can get support is essential.

• Capital on Tap: We provide UK-based support available 24/7, 365 days a year. You can contact us via phone, email, or live chat at any time.

• Amex Business Gold: Offers support via phone and live chat, available Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm (9:00am-5:00pm on Bank Holidays), though fraud and authorisation hotlines are available 24/7.

Insurance 

Both cards provide security features to protect your business against fraud and unauthorised spending.

• Capital on Tap: Your card is protected by Visa’s Zero Liability Policy, meaning you aren't held responsible for unauthorised charges. 

• Amex Business Gold: Includes Purchase Protection (up to £2,500 per item for 90 days) and Refund Protection (up to £300 per item). It also provides travel accident and travel inconvenience cover when you use the card to book your trip.

The bottom line

Both the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card and Amex Business Gold are great tools for managing business finances. If your business needs a flexible credit limit to grow or frequently spends internationally, the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card may be the more suitable fit. With credit limits of up to £250,000, zero FX fees, flexible reward redemption options, and a 2-minute application process, it is designed to support business cash flow and provide immediate cashback without the need to manage a complex points portal.

All data is accurate as of March 2026. This does not constitute financial or tax advice. For specific guidance, please consult a qualified professional.

Frequently asked questions

Does Amex Business Gold or Capital on Tap offer better cashback?

The value of cashback depends on how you redeem rewards. Capital on Tap provides straightforward, uncapped 1% cashback on all spending, which can be used to pay off your balance, withdrawn as cash, used to buy gift cards, or converted into Avios, Virgin points or Radisson Rewards points. 

Amex Business Gold uses a points-based system where you earn 1 point per £1 spent. While Amex points can offer high value when transferred to airline partners, Capital on Tap is often preferred by businesses that value simple, cash-in-hand rewards without an annual fee.

Can I use my business credit card abroad without fees?

Yes, if you use the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card. We do not charge any foreign exchange (FX) fees or charges for using your card or withdrawing cash at ATMs anywhere in the world. In contrast, Amex Business Gold typically charges a 2.99% fee on all non-sterling transactions.

To put that into perspective, if your business spends £10,000 on international suppliers, subscriptions or overseas travel in a year:

• With Capital on Tap, you pay £0 in FX fees.

• With Amex Business Gold, you would pay approximately £299 in fees alone.

This makes Capital on Tap a highly cost-effective choice for businesses with regular foreign currency spending needs.

What is the credit limit for Capital on Tap vs Amex Business Gold?

Capital on Tap offers credit limits up to £250,000 based on your business's performance and creditworthiness. Amex Business Gold is a charge card and technically has no pre-set spending limit; however, this does not mean unlimited spending. Your purchasing power with Amex is adjusted based on your spending patterns, payment history, and financial resources.

How long does it take to get approved for a business credit card?

At Capital on Tap, we pride ourselves on speed—you can complete our online application in under 2 minutes and often receive an instant decision. Once approved, your virtual card is available immediately for use. Amex Business Gold also offers an online application, but the manual review process for premium cards can sometimes take longer to finalise.