American Express® Map: Frequently Asked Questions

American Express Maps displays qualifying American Express® Card-accepting businesses with a physical location for customers to easily find offers and benefits at the places they love, and discover new favorite places.

The Online Directory within American Express Maps lists qualifying businesses that only accept online transactions or those that do not have a physical location.

If your business is on the American Express Maps, customers can search for and see important information about your business, including business hours.

Your business may also be included in local recommendations that appear to Card Members on the Map, based on a Card Member’s history of purchases at similar businesses.

The Shop Small Map is a filtered experience within American Express Maps. The Shop Small Map only displays U.S. businesses that meet certain Shop Small eligibility criteria. The criteria are outlined in FAQ 4.

Note that businesses on the Shop Small Map also appear on American Express Maps.

There are two ways a business can qualify to appear on American Express Maps:

1. A business can appear on American Express Maps if they qualify for the Shop Small Map. For Shop Small Map qualification criteria, please see FAQ 4.
2. Otherwise, a business can appear on the American Express Maps (but not the Shop Small Map) if they satisfy the following criteria:

a.     Must be an American Express® Card-accepting business;

b.     Must do business in one of our selected industries: dining, lodging, supermarkets, drugstores, office supplies, shipping, construction, wholesale, department/ retail stores, computer hardware, computer software, cloud computing services, manufacturing, wireless telephone services, medical equipment, retail trade, home furnishings, hardware, and other services;     

c.     Must do business in one of our selected geographic areas to show up in that market’s respective Map. These geographic areas consist of the following: United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Australia.

To appear on the Shop Small Map, businesses must meet the following Shop Small-eligible criteria:

• Must be an American Express Card accepting business;
• Must be located in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, American Samoa, Armed Forces Pacific, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • For brick-and-mortar merchants, this means that you must have at least one physical business location within these territories; for online-only businesses, this means that you must have a service area within these territories;
• Must have at least 1 but no more than 25 locations (for brick-and-mortar businesses) and have no more than $5M in American Express annual charge volume;
• Must not be part of a franchise brand that has more than 250 stores;
  • Additionally, if a franchise brand has more than 25 corporate-owned stores, then the entire brand is excluded;
• Must be enabled to accept American Express Cards.
• Merchants who have been with us for more than 12 months must have had at least 1 transaction in the last calendar year. 
• Businesses in these industries are excluded: Government agencies, public administration, gas stations and businesses located on the same premises as a gas station, travel agencies, charities, non-profits, peer-to- peer payments, crowdfunding, trade associations, shopping property management companies, direct sellers, and political organizations;
• In some cases, if a merchant processes American Express® Card payments solely through a third-party processor (for example, those that offer the ability to accept credit cards through a card reader attached to a mobile device) or as part of an affiliate program, they may be excluded from participating on American Express Maps, depending on whether or not the third party provides sufficient data for American Express to determine if the business meets the foregoing qualifications.
• Additionally, the merchant may not automatically display on the Shop Small Map and may have to manually opt-in, see FAQ 9.

There could be a few reasons why a business may not display on the map:

1. The business location(s) may not qualify. Please review the current qualification criteria in FAQ 3 to see if the business location qualifies to appear on the Shop Small Map or Online Directory.
2. The business location(s) may qualify to appear, but the preference for including the business location(s) on the American Express Maps may not be set to Yes. To include a qualifying business location on the Map or directory, please follow the steps outlined in FAQ 9 and FAQ 10.
3. American Express Maps only returns 100 merchants for each search. Our system takes into consideration a proprietary mix of factors to filter to those 100.
4. Filtering by industry or entering more of the address information may return different search results.

When a Card Member is logged in, the businesses they will see on the Map are curated to help them explore new and relevant places nearby. The more a customer uses their Card, the more relevant those business suggestions can be.

When customers are logged out, the businesses they will see on the Map are what is most popular among Card Members in their area.

TripAdvisor reviews and ratings are displayed in cases where we have been able to link an American Express Merchant to a TripAdvisor listing.

Only a merchant can remove their business from the Map.

If you would like to have a business removed from American Express Maps, you should first confirm whether it appears on the Shop Small Map. This can be confirmed by clicking “filters” on the Map and verifying whether “Shop Small Map” is checked in the Feature section.

• If your business is on the Shop Small Map, you may remove it by following these steps:
  • Log into your account here*
  • Click on your business location.
  • Uncheck the checkbox to indicate that you do not want to get free exposure for your business by disallowing your public business information to be seen on our Shop Small Map and other marketing channels.
    
• If your business is not on the Shop Small Map, but is on American Express Maps, you can contact your Client Manager to request removal from American Express Maps.

Please note that updates to the Map are not immediate. In some circumstances, it may take up to 3 weeks or more for Amex to verify the requested change and for that change to be reflected in American Express Maps or Online Directory.

*To log-in to your account, you will need your Tax ID/ EIN or Social Security Number and your business zip code or your User ID and password. If you are unable to login, or cannot recall your credentials to login, you can call our Shop Small servicing center at 1-833-213-0506. We are available from 9am EST to 6pm EST, Monday through Friday. You can also email us at ShopSmallHelp@aexp.com.

Only a merchant can add their business location to the Map.

• If your business is eligible to appear on the Shop Small Map as outlined in FAQ 4, you can add your business location on the Shop Small Map by following these steps:
  1. Log into your account here*
  2. Click on your business location. A page will display your business location’s public information as it will be seen on our Shop Small Map and in other marketing channels, provided you complete the steps that follow.
  3. Make sure the checkbox is checked to indicate you want to get free exposure for your business by allowing your public business information to be seen on our Shop Small Map and other marketing channels.
  4. Click the edit icon on the right side of the page to update your business location’s public information.
     
  5. Click the “Save” button after making changes in each portion of your location details to save your updates. 
• If your business is not eligible to appear on the Shop Small Map as outlined in FAQ 4, but is eligible to appear on American Express Maps as outlined in FAQ 3, you can contact your Client Manager to request the addition of your business location(s) to American Express Maps.

Please note that updates to the Map are not immediate. In some circumstances, it may take up to 3 weeks or more for Amex to verify the requested change and for that change to be reflected in American Express Maps or Online Directory.

*To log-in to your account, you will need your Tax ID/ EIN or Social Security Number and your business zip code or your User ID and password. If you are unable to login, or cannot recall your credentials to login, you can call our Shop Small servicing center at 1-833-213-0506. We are available from 9am EST to 6pm EST, Monday through Friday. You can also email us at ShopSmallHelp@aexp.com

Only a merchant can add their business location to the Map.

• If your business is eligible to appear on the Shop Small Map as outlined in FAQ 4, you can add your business location on the Shop Small Map by following these steps:
  1. Log into your account here*
  2. Click on your business location. A page will display your business location’s public information as it will be seen on our Shop Small Map and in other marketing channels, provided you complete the steps that follow.
  3. Make sure the checkbox is checked to indicate you want to get free exposure for your business by allowing your public business information to be seen on our Shop Small Map and other marketing channels.
  4. Click the edit icon on the right side of the page to update your business location’s public information.
     
  5. Click the “Save” button after making changes in each portion of your location details to save your updates. 
• If your business is not eligible to appear on the Shop Small Map as outlined in FAQ 4, but is eligible to appear on American Express Maps as outlined in FAQ 3, you can contact your Client Manager to request the addition of your business location(s) to American Express Maps.

Please note that updates to the Map are not immediate. In some circumstances, it may take up to 3 weeks or more for Amex to verify the requested change and for that change to be reflected in American Express Maps or Online Directory.

*To log-in to your account, you will need your Tax ID/ EIN or Social Security Number and your business zip code or your User ID and password. If you are unable to login, or cannot recall your credentials to login, you can call our Shop Small servicing center at 1-833-213-0506. We are available from 9am EST to 6pm EST, Monday through Friday. You can also email us at ShopSmallHelp@aexp.com

Possibly. Provided you meet all other eligibility criteria as outlined above, you may be eligible to appear on the Shop Small Map or Online Directory, provided that the aggregator provides enough data for American Express to determine whether your business meets the foregoing qualifications. To determine whether you are eligible, you can log in here or call us at 1-833-213-0506 between 9am - 6pm EST, Monday through Friday. If you qualify, you can add or update your business information, FAQ 9 and FAQ 10.

It depends. Each location displayed on the Map or Online Directory is tied to a unique Merchant Number so you can only indicate one listing preference per Merchant Number.

If you have separate Merchant Numbers for your physical store and your online business, you may include one on the Map and one on the Online Directory.

However, if you use the same Merchant Number for both parts of your business, you will need to choose to be listed either on the Map or the Online Directory because you cannot be listed in both.

You can include your business in the Online Directory. This directory is for businesses that do not have a physical address for shoppers to visit. When confirming or adding your business information, make sure you update your URL, and in the Servicing section, select “Card Members cannot visit location”.

No. This process will only update your public information for use in Card Member account statements, Card Member recommendations, on the Map, Online Directory, and in other marketing channels. If you need to update your merchant account information that American Express or your third-party payment processor uses to manage your account, please call the number on your monthly statement. Likewise, if you update your billing or other account information, these changes will not automatically be made to your Map or Online Directory listing.

We can appreciate that you would prefer to keep your home address and personal information private, and we can help correct this situation. Please follow the below steps to correct your information:

1. Log into your account here*
   
2. Click on your location. A page will display your location’s public information as it will be seen on our Map and other marketing channels, provided you complete the steps that follow.
3. Click the edit icon on the right side of the page to update your business location’s public information.
4. To keep your business information on the Map or Online Directory: Make sure the checkbox is checked to indicate you want to get free exposure for your business by allowing your public business information to be seen on our Map and other marketing channels.
5. To remove your information from the Map or Online Directory: Uncheck the checkbox to indicate that you do not want to get free exposure for your business by allowing your public business information to be seen on our Map and in other marketing channels. Please note that by unchecking this checkbox, you will not be included in Card Member recommendations and may not be included in various Card Member offers.
   
6. Click the “Save” button after making changes in each portion of your location details to save your updates.

*To log-in to your account, you will need your Tax ID/ EIN or Social Security Number and your business zip code or your User ID and password. If you are unable to login, or cannot recall your credentials to login, you can call our Shop Small servicing center at 1-833-213-0506. We are available from 9am EST to 6pm EST, Monday through Friday. You can also email us at ShopSmallHelp@aexp.com.

American Express makes personalized recommendations to Card Members on where to spend at qualifying American-Express accepting businesses. We display these recommended businesses through multiple channels, such as the Map, emails to Card Members, and within Card Members’ online accounts. American Express focuses recommendations on everyday spend categories such as dining, shopping, and entertainment, as well as business services and supplies.

To be recommended, your business must be in an eligible category and listed on the Map or Online Directory.

American Express recommendations are currently provided for businesses operating primarily in the following industries: dining, shopping, entertainment, services, travel, and business services. American Express-accepting merchants in additional industries may be located via search on the Map.

There are industries for which American Express does not provide recommendations. These industries may include medical or professional organizations, residential care, education, funeral, and crematory services, among others. In addition, American Express does not provide recommendations in industries related to guns, pornography, or religion.

The Offers Map allows all eligible U.S. Card Members to easily identify the participating locations of businesses where Amex Offers for large and local businesses can be redeemed in-store. Card Members can search for available offers in any US location, sort them by category, then add them to their Card directly from the Map. Card Members can also view the participating locations of Amex Offers that they have saved to their Card, regardless of how they were added to their Card.

If the FAQs on this page do not address your questions, please feel free to call a customer service representative. You can also chat with us online or via the AMEX App.

Shop Small is a nationwide movement to celebrate small businesses on Small Business Saturday and every day to help communities thrive and stay vibrant.

Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses and communities across the country and is part of the larger Shop Small Movement. Founded by American Express in 2010, this day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the U.S.

U.S. consumers have reported spending an estimated $184 billion at small businesses on Small Business Saturday since the movement started*.

You can learn more about the history of Small Business Saturday here.

*This spend statistic is an aggregate of the average spend as reported by consumers who shopped small on Small Business Saturday in surveys commissioned by American Express reporting spend habits on Small Business Saturday since 2012. It does not reflect actual receipts or sales. Each such survey was conducted online among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The data was projected from the samples based on then- current U.S. Census estimates of the U.S. adult population (18+).

Invite your customers to Shop Small® with you and help attract new customers. As an American Express® Card accepting small business, the Shop Small Resource Hub is your go-to source for content, resources and tools to help you promote your business year-round. Learn more about other resources to help connect your business to American Express® Card Members and find savings on services that can help your business grow.

As a small business owner with a physical or online presence, you can enjoy tools and resources to help you promote your business year-round. The Shop Small Resource Hub is your go-to source for tips and inspiration to help you promote your business, and to download free marketing materials like social media posts, printable signage, and more, which can be used throughout the year to show shoppers they can Shop Small® at your business.

Additionally, we know attracting more customers is important to you—so it is important to us. As a qualifying American Express® Card accepting small business, you can be recommended in emails to Card Members, in their online accounts, and within search results on the Shop Small Map — all for free. In 2022, over 17 million American Express® Card Members received personalized suggestions of eligible American Express® Card accepting businesses, across their online accounts, and the American Express® Map*.

*2022 Internal Amex Recommendations Data. Amex cannot guarantee your business will appear in a search on American Express Maps. Merchants are displayed via the American Express Maps, Americanexpress.com, and email.

The Shop Small® Map, recommendations to Card Members, complimentary signs & supplies, and digital marketing materials such as social media posts and email templates are all available for free to help promote your business. Business owners are only responsible for the cost of printing any downloaded marketing materials.

You can learn more about becoming an American Express® Card-accepting merchant at AmericanExpress.com/AcceptTheCard.

Eligible small businesses can accept American Express Cards through a Payment Provider, which sets the rate for card acceptance, or you can accept directly through American Express. Learn more about the two ways to accept card payments online and in store today at AmericanExpress.com/AcceptTheCard.

No, you do not need to be an  American Express® Card Member or accept American Express® Cards to get free downloadable marketing materials in the Shop Small Resource Hub.

If the FAQs on this page do not address your questions, please feel free to call our Shop Small® servicing center at 1-833-213-0506. We are available from 9am to 6pm ET, Monday through Friday. You can also email us at ShopSmallHelp@aexp.com.

According to the February 2023 Nilson Report, American Express can be accepted at 99% of places in the U.S. that accept credit cards.

According to the February 2023 Nilson Report, American Express can be accepted at 99% of places in the U.S. that accept credit cards. We are currently working to expand coverage where American Express Card Members live, work and travel. This will continue to be a focus for American Express in key cities around the world.

Nilson is an independent third-party that conducts an annual review on Merchant Acceptance locations and produces a leading publication on payments systems worldwide. The most recent Nilson Report was published in February 2023.

We have made efforts to tackle outdated misperceptions about accepting American Express, including the cost for merchants. We are helping merchants understand that things have changed. In fact, on average, there is little difference between the cost to accept American Express versus Visa and Mastercard*.

We've also made it easier for our merchants – small, medium, and large – to accept American Express. These efforts included the introduction of OptBlue in 2014 that enabled small businesses to accept American Express through their existing processor who sets the rate and facilitates the transaction, just as they do for other cards.

* Based on estimated weighted averages for U.S. charge volume for merchants who accept credit cards from all three networks, may not be indicative of the rates paid by individual merchants. The average cost to accept American Express includes the discount rate, per-transaction fees, and estimated third party acquirer margins applied to the wholesale rate for wholesale charge volumes. The average costs to accept Visa and MasterCard are comprised of interchange, network fees (e.g., assessment fee and cross-border fee) and acquirer margin, and are based on published interchange tables, other publicly available data and third party commissioned research.

If the FAQs on this page do not address your questions, please feel free to call a customer service representative. You can also chat with us online or via the AMEX App.