Ways to work the perks of your business card this year

Here are easy hacks to help you get the most out of your business card.

Sponsored by the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card. Receive 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply by 14 January 2025 and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 2 months. Available only to new American Express Card Members. T&Cs apply.

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They can be a way to reward yourself, incentivise your employees and take a bit of the sting out of the expenses of running your company.

But if you take a step back and look at how you're currently using them, are you really getting the maximum benefit?

We've put together a primer to help you get the most out of different perks.

Looking at these factors and any other features you're interested in helps you choose a solution that works for your business.

1. Know what won't earn you rewards

When you first get a new solution, it's very tempting to use it for all of your business expenses, irrespective of what they may be.

But when you're looking to maximise your rewards and minimise unnecessary expenditure, it's not always the best option.

Let's look at cash advances and balance transfers as an example.

Although these are things that are sometimes necessary as part of running a business, they're not going to earn you points, or count towards earning other rewards.

They also generally have fees and other costs attached – all of which can add significantly to your operating expenses, without direct benefit.

By looking carefully at how you use your solution, you can reduce your risk of cutting into potential rewards down the road.

2. Attend events and experiences

In addition to the traditional points scheme or cashback offers, some providers also offer events and experiences as perks.

For example, American Express members can get access to exclusive member-only experiences as well as early access to other events via Pre-Sale Tickets.

With these bonuses, you might choose to treat yourself, give a gift to an employee or use them as a way to entertain your clients.

3. Leverage perks for employee incentives

Points schemes are very popular, with travel and airline tickets typically getting the most public attention.

They can often be used for a whole range of other purposes too. For example, Qantas Points can cover different shopping and dining experiences.

If you're looking to incentivise staff, you might decide to have a giveaway of a spiffy new home appliance. Perhaps you could treat your best-performing staff to a night out at some of Australia's finest restaurants.

The points themselves can serve as a reward too.

The American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card allows you to pool Qantas Points in the airline's business loyalty program. You can transfer them to any Qantas Frequent Flyer account.

Once they've been received, the staff member who's been given them is free to do what they want with them.

5. Look for ways to stack bonuses

When you're weighing up the various perks, look at whether you might be able to combine any of them to increase your benefits further.

The specifics will look different for every provider, but let's examine the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card again as a real-world example.

The American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card offers a few different ways to earn points with everyday spend.

You earn 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on Qantas products and services. For everyday business spending, you earn 1.25 points per $1 spent and for government (such as with the Australian Taxation Office), insurance or utilities spending, you're looking at 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent.²

Book eligible flights on your American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card and the points your business earns from flying will be tripled.³

Learn more about the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card

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Product AUCCF	Bonus points	Rewards points per $ spent	Complimentary travel insurance	Minimum annual revenue	Annual fee
American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card	130,000	1.25	Yes	$75,000	Annual fee $450	(ABN holders w/ $75k revenue). Earn 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 2 months.	Go to siteMore Info Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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• Extra info about American Express

  You can check out the Membership Rewards T&Cs here, but there are also a few key things we thought you should know.

  American Express approval criteria apply to employee cards. Fees and charges may apply. The Business, the Basic Card Member and each Employee Card Member are jointly and severally liable for all Employee Card spending. Subject to the Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions and to the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card Points Terms and Conditions.

  1. Qantas Club Lounge passes: provided the Primary Card Member is a Qantas Frequent Flyer member and has registered their Qantas Frequent Flyer number with your business' American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card, your business is eligible to receive two domestic Qantas Club Lounge Invitations each anniversary year of Card Membership once your business makes an Eligible Qantas Purchase on your American Express Card during that year. Eligible Qantas Purchases are Qantas passenger airfares with a QF flight number purchased directly from Qantas Australia that appear on your Card statement, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas Business Rewards or Qantas Club membership, joining or annual fees. Excludes purchases from Jetstar. Within 1-2 weeks of the Eligible Qantas Purchase, two Qantas Club Lounge Invitations will be assigned to the Qantas Frequent Flyer account nominated by the business. Visit the Complimentary Invitations Portal to access invitations, link it with an eligible Qantas flight booking or find out more information. Qantas Club Lounge Invitations are valid for a single visit by one guest to a domestic Qantas Club Lounge only and must be used prior to their expiry. Invitations are subject to the Qantas Club terms and conditions. Qantas Club Invitations cannot be carried forward to any subsequent year and must not be sold, they may only be transferred as allowed by Qantas. Invitations may be revoked or withheld if your business' American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card account is not in good standing, if the Eligible Qantas Purchase is refunded in full or if you have not complied with these Qantas Club Invitation Conditions, the Card Terms and Conditions or the Qantas Club Lounge Access Terms and Conditions.

  2. Your business will earn 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 of eligible everyday spend; 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at participating merchants classified as utilities, government or insurance; and 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on the eligible Qantas products and services. Exclusions apply. Subject to the Qantas Business Rewards terms and conditions and to the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card Points terms and conditions.

  3. Triple Qantas Points on flights for your business: A business must be a Qantas Business Rewards Member to earn triple Qantas Points for business. The triple Qantas Points for business are only available for American Express Qantas Card Members when the Card is used to make an eligible Qantas flight booking. Qantas will allocate to the business an amount equal to the Qantas Points earned by the traveller when travelling for business against a rate of either: 20% (Level 1); or 30% (Level 2); or 40% (Level 3) multiplied by three. An eligible flight means a domestic or international flight which has a Qantas 'QF' flight number on the ticket that is purchased in Australia; is operated by Qantas, Emirates or American Airlines; has a ticket number commencing with '081'; and is booked and travelled for business on or after the date the business registers for Qantas Business Rewards. Exclusions apply. Triple Qantas Points for Business is not available in conjunction with any other rebate, Corporate Fares Agreement or discount arrangement with Qantas. A Member's ABN and traveller's Qantas Frequent Flyer number must be quoted at the time of booking to earn Qantas Points for both the business and the traveller. The maximum number of Qantas Points that can be earned from flying by a business with the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card is 4,000,000 per membership year as per the Triple Qantas Points for business benefit terms.