What OptBlue is, in plain words
OptBlue is the program that lets your regular processor sign you up for American Express. American Express describes it this way: third-party providers sign a contract directly with eligible businesses to enable Amex acceptance, with one statement, one deposit and one servicing contact for all the major card brands you accept [1].
In practice, that means Amex shows up as one more card on the account you already have. You do not need a second contract with American Express, and you do not wait for a separate Amex deposit.
Estimated annual charge volume (ECV)
The dollar amount of American Express card sales your business expects in a year. Amex uses it to decide whether you can sign up through OptBlue. U.S. businesses with ECV under $3 million a year may be eligible [1].
Who can use OptBlue
Amex sets the line at an estimated $3 million a year in Amex sales, with certain industry and franchise restrictions [1]. Some industries have no threshold at all. Amex lists charity, education, government, healthcare, insurance, residential rent and utilities among the categories where no ECV threshold exists [1].
If you are not eligible, or would rather deal with Amex directly, American Express takes direct sign-ups by phone [1]. For most New Jersey storefronts, restaurants and service businesses, though, the $3 million line is far above their Amex volume, so OptBlue through their processor is the default path.
The providers Amex lists for OptBlue include banks such as Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo Merchant Services, and processors such as Square, Stripe, Fiserv, Global Payments and Intuit [1]. Amex notes the list is not complete [1].
Who sets your Amex price
Under OptBlue, your processor sets your Amex rate, just as it sets your rates for the other card brands [1]. American Express says so directly and tells owners to ask a participating provider for their Amex rate [1].
On a flat-rate plan, the answer is simple. Square says you can accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover all for the same processing fees [2]. Chase says that on its basic pricing all cards cost the same, while custom pricing may vary by card type [3]. If you are on custom or interchange-plus pricing, Amex may be priced differently from the other brands, so look for it on your statement.
- Find the Amex line on last month's statement, or confirm you are on one blended rate.
- Ask your processor: is my Amex rate the same as Visa and Mastercard? If not, what is it?
- If you surcharge or run a cash discount program, confirm the rules for Amex with your processor and check our New Jersey surcharge law guide before changing anything.
Is taking Amex worth it for a small business?
American Express makes its own case with numbers it attributes to the Nilson Report: Amex says it is accepted at 99% of U.S. places that take credit cards, and that the average Amex transaction was 58% larger than on other networks [1]. Treat those as Amex's figures about all merchants, not a promise about your shop.
A simpler test is your own customers. If people ask for Amex, or if you sell to businesses and travelers, ask your current processor what turning it on involves and what it will cost per sale. If no one asks and you are on custom pricing with a higher Amex line, you can wait. Either way, the decision is now about one rate on one statement, not a second contract.
Checking your setup in ten minutes
Pull your latest statement and look for three things: whether Amex is listed, whether it carries its own rate, and whether you are on a flat or pass-through plan. Our guide to reading a merchant statement shows where each one sits. If the Amex line looks high or you cannot find it, BatchOut can price your statement on a setup where every card brand is shown plainly.