Q: What is the B2B Directory?
A: The B2B Directory is a resource for in-depth information on hundreds of thousands of B2B companies. That is, companies that do business primarily with other businesses. All companies listed in the B2B Directory accept the American Express Card.

Q: How can I use the B2B Directory for my small business?
A: You already know you can use your Card for travel, entertainment and office supplies. And you can also enjoy the same Card benefits when procuring inventory, materials and other goods to run your business.

Q: How can I help make the B2B Directory better for me and other Cardmembers?
A: You can help by keeping your company's profile accurate. Ensure your company name, street address, fax number, phone number and URL are up to date.

Q: Is there a charge for using or being listed in the B2B Directory?
A: No. As an accepting American Express B2B merchant, you are automatically listed on the B2B Directory at no charge.

Q: How do I contact Customer Service?
A: Here are the numbers to call for assistance, and answers to questions:

In Canada:
Cardmembers: 1-800-869-3016
Merchants: 1-800-268-9877

In US:
Cardmembers: 1-800-238-8087
Merchants: 1-800-528-5200

Q: Where does Company Profile information come from?
A: Merchants complete Company Profiles and are encouraged to validate and update their information. Update your information

Q: Is the information in the B2B Directory current?
A: Yes. Each month, new American Express B2B merchants are added to the B2B Directory.

Q: How can I help make the B2B Directory better for me and other Cardmembers?
A: You can help by keeping your company's profile is accurate.  Ensure your company name, street address, fax number, phone number and url are up to date.

Q: Why can’t I find a supplier?
A: There are a few reasons why a supplier won’t be found in the B2B Directory:

• The supplier may reside outside Canada or the U.S. This directory currently includes only North American suppliers.
• A supplier may have asked not to be included in the directory, or does not qualify as a supplier in the directory.
• A supplier that does not accept the American Express Card will not be listed in the directory.

Q: How can I update my Company Profile information?
A: You can update your Company Profile – including your company name, street address, fax number, phone number and URL – online at no extra charge. American Express reviews the changes and once verified, updates your Company Profile the following month.

Q: How do I remove my company's listing from the B2B Directory?
A: You can remove your listing by accessing your Company Profile and clicking the Update Your Profile link. Or, you can call Merchant Services at 1-800-268-9877. We will de-list your company within one business day of your request.

Q: How do I get started?
A: You can search for a company in the B2B Directory in several ways:

• Company Name
• Location
• Industry
• Keywords associated with a company

If you don't know where to begin, using keywords is a good place to start. If you’re in the market for a service or materials – such as lumber, shoes, office supplies, fabric, flour or anything else you need for your business – simply enter the word in the keyword field and start your search. The keywords you enter will be matched with supplier data that matches your keywords. If you don’t get the immediate results you’re looking for, try searching by industry type. Use the industry drop-down menu, or type the industry into the keyword field.

Always keep in mind that the more content you put into a search, the narrower your search results will be.

For example, if you run a kitchen remodelling business, and you need to locate home goods stores in your area, we suggest that you search using the Postal Code/Zip Code option. You can do this one of two ways:

• Within Search, simply enter the postal code or zip code in the Keyword field.
• Within Advanced Search, simply enter the postal code or zip code in the Postal Code/Zip Code field.

Or, if you’d rather do a national search for home goods stores, leave the Postal Code/Zip Code field blank. That way, you'll find more results across Canada and the U.S.

Q: How do I use the B2B Directory to find a company?
A: There are several ways you can search for a company in the B2B Directory:

• Company Name
• Location
• Industry
• Merchant Commodity Code (MCC)
• Keywords associated with a company

The more criteria you enter, the fewer search results you'll receive. By adding less search criteria, you'll receive a greater number of results.

Q: How can I narrow my search results?
A: There are several ways to narrow your search results:

• Add more search criteria, and click 'Search within Results' on the search results page. This will narrow your search by including the information you added into a new search within your current results.
• Use the search filters provided.
• Add additional criteria to your search. Whether you add a postal code or zip code, industry type or any other search criteria, your search will generate fewer results.

Q: How do I use the Saved Searches function?
A:Saved Searches make it easy for you to return to a Search you’ve previously done.

If you have certain suppliers you use consistently for transactions, you can give yourself easy access to your original search criteria by using the 'Your Saved Searches' function.

That way, you can quickly and easily see if there are any new suppliers within that industry and/or area.

Q: How do I use the Saved Suppliers function?
A: If you have certain suppliers you use consistently for transactions, you can create a preferred list of suppliers by using the 'Your Saved Suppliers' function.

Once you've created a saved list, you can download it, print it, review it and update it online any time.

Q: How do I search for a company by industry type?
A: There are three ways to search for a company by Industry Type:

• Keyword search
• Merchant Commodity Code (MCC) – This function allows you to find a code using alphabetical or numerical options
• Industry Type and Industry Sub-type – This function allows you to select a main industry category (e.g., 'Service Providers') from the first menu, and a subcategory (e.g., 'Carpet and Upholstery') from the second menu to narrow your search

Q: What is my Saved Supplier List?
A: Your Saved Supplier list is a group of businesses you have selected for fast, easy access. Your Saved Suppliers are stored as a 'cookie' on your computer and are accessible only from the computer you used to create your list.

Q: How do I access my Saved Suppliers List?
A: You can access your Saved Suppliers list by going to the primary navigation menu on the left side of the B2B Directory.

If you've created a Saved Suppliers List, then you'll be able to see the companies you've added to it. If you have not created a list, your Saved Supplier list will be empty.

Q: How do I select a company as a Saved Supplier?
A: To add a business to your list, click the box to the left of the Company Name on the Search Results page. Then, check the box next to the company you'd like to add to your list, and then click the '+' icon to 'Add to your saved suppliers.'

Q: What keyword search strategies should I know?
A: This site incorporates Boolean Searching. When using multiple keywords, follow these guidelines:

• Use "or" between words to request that any keywords be included in the search results (e.g., searching for "American or Express" returns results containing "American" OR "Express").
  
• Use "and" between words to request that all keywords be included in the search results (e.g., searching for "American and Express" returns results containing "American" AND "Express").
  
• Searching for "American – Express" returns results containing "American" but NOT "Express".
• Searching for “American Express” returns the same results as "American and Express."

Q: What if I don’t know the full name of a company?
A: If you don’t know the full name of a company, perform a Wild Card search.

You may enter a portion of the name along with an asterisk (which is used as a wildcard) to aid your search.

Examples of wildcards include:

• Wildcard (*) at the beginning of an entry. For example, typing "*Wholesale" in the name text field will retrieve all companies with the word "Wholesale" in the company name.
• Wildcard at the end of an entry. For example, typing "Office*" in the name field will retrieve all companies with names beginning with the word "Office."
• Wildcard in the middle of an entry. For example, typing "J* Automotive" will retrieve all companies with names beginning with the letter "J" and containing the word "Automotive."
• Multiple wildcards in the name field. For example, typing "J* Auto*" in the name field will retrieve all companies beginning with the letter "J" and containing the word "Auto."

Q: How does the site 'remember' my Saved Suppliers and Saved Searches?
A: This site relies on cookie functionality in order to remember your Saved Searches and Saved Suppliers. The lists you create are stored as cookies on your computer and are accessible only from the computer that was originally used to create your Saved Searches and Saved Suppliers.

Q: How do I search by location?
A: You can enter an exact location, an area defined by kilometres within a postal code or zip code of your choice, or select from our list of Canadian provinces and U.S. states.

Q: How do I use Industry Codes?
A: Merchant Commodity Codes (MCCs) are universally recognized and used by card issuers to categorize industries. For your convenience, you can use MCCs as alternate search option. You can search with any combination of:

• MCC
• Industry Type
• Industry Sub-type

Q: How can I download my company search results?
A: You can download your search results by selecting companies and clicking the download icon on the search results page. You can also download individual companies by clicking the same download icon on the Company Profile page. If you choose the first option, you can pick specific companies to include in your download.

Q: Can I send search results information via email?
A: Yes. To send selected suppliers via email, simply click on the provided link and your own mail program will open. Then, enter the email addresses of the people to whom you would like to send the information.

Q: Can I print my search results?
A: Yes. You can print your search results by selecting 'Print Supplier Info' from the B2B Results Page. A printer-friendly page will be provided.

Q: How do I access the search results file after downloading it?
A: The results will download as a .csv (Comma Separated Values) file, a native format of Microsoft® Excel. You can open it as a worksheet in Excel, or as a table in Microsoft® Access. If the list consists of more then 65,000 companies, you must open it in Access.

To import the downloaded search results file to Excel:

1. Locate the downloaded file on your hard drive.
2. Right-click on the file icon or file name.
3. Choose 'Rename' from the pop-up menu.
4. Type 'download.csv' as the file name.
5. Choose 'Enter.'

To import the downloaded search results file to Microsoft Access 2000:

1. Open Access 2000.
2. Choose 'File/Open' from the File bar.
3. Locate the downloaded search results file using the 'File Open' dialog box.
4. Click on the file to highlight it, and choose 'Open.'
5. In the 'Link Text Wizard,' choose the 'Delimited--Characters such as comma or tab separated each field' button.
6. Click 'Next.'
7. On the next screen, choose the 'Comma' button.
8. Click the 'First Row Contains Field Names' check box.
9. Click 'Finish.'
10. Click 'OK.'
11. In the 'Download: Database' window, double-click on the last item in the window. It should be called 'Download.'