40,000 Avios Sign-Up Bonus for BA Amex Business Card
Small-business owners and sole traders can claim a 40,000-Avios sign-up bonus on the British Airways Amex Accelerating Business Card if they spend £5,000 in the first three months. The offer runs until 6 October 2026 and includes a £200 annual statement credit for Avios Hotels or Car Hire bookings.
The British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card now offers a 40,000 Avios sign-up bonus for eligible small-business owners and sole traders. The offer is valid until 6 October 2026 and requires £5,000 of spend within the first three months.
Eligibility and Bonus Conditions
The bonus is available to anyone who has not held a British Airways Amex Accelerating Business Card or any other American Express Business Card in the past 12 months. Personal British Airways Amex cards do not disqualify applicants. If you have held the American Express Business Platinum, Business Gold, or any niche Amex Business card within the last year, you will not qualify.
The card is open to businesses with a UK bank or building society account, no County Court Judgements, and a permanent UK home address. Sole traders may use their personal bank details; VAT registration is not required.
Earning Rates and Annual Bonus
The card currently offers 1.5 Avios per £1 spent on eligible purchases and 2 On Business points per £1 spent with British Airways. From 7 October 2026, the Avios rate will drop to 1.25 per £1 and On Business points will no longer be earned.
| Date | Avios per £1 | On Business points per £1 |
|---|---|---|
| Until 6 Oct 2026 | 1.5 | 2 |
| From 7 Oct 2026 | 1.25 | 0 |
An annual spend bonus is also offered: 10,000 Avios for every £20,000 spent, up to three times per calendar year, for a maximum of 30,000 Avios. This translates to an average of 2 Avios per £1 spent if you reach £60,000 in purchases.
| Spend | Bonus Avios | Maximum Annual Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| £20,000 | 10,000 | 30,000 |
| £40,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 |
| £60,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Other Benefits and Fees
The annual fee is £250, which is tax-deductible for business expenses. Cardholders receive up to 56 days interest-free, up to 99 free supplementary cards for staff, and standard American Express travel and purchase protection. From 7 October 2026, cardholders will also receive a £200 statement credit each calendar year when booking through Avios Hotels or Avios Car Hire, first in October 2026 and again in January 2027.
Comparison with Other Business Cards
The BA Amex Business Card remains the only Avios-earning small-business card that accepts sole traders. Other American Express business cards are limited to directors of limited companies or members of limited liability partnerships.
| Card | Bonus Points | Points per £1 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA Amex Business | 40,000 (sign-up) | 1.5 Avios | 30,000 annual bonus |
| Amex Business Platinum | 50,000 points | 1 Avios | Directors only |
| Amex Business Gold | 20,000 points | 1 Avios | Directors only |
| Capital On Tap Pro Visa | 10,500 points | 1 Avios | Directors only |
| Capital On Tap Visa | 0 points | 0.8 Avios | Directors only |
The 40,000-Avios sign-up bonus, combined with the £200 annual credit and generous spend-based bonus, makes the BA Amex Accelerating Business Card a compelling choice for small-business owners and sole traders looking to maximise Avios earnings. The full application details are available on the British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card website.
