Comments on: New American Express Bonus: 40,000 Points (for Big Spenders) http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/10/23/new-american-express-bonus-40000-points-for-big-spenders/ A premiere personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/10/23/new-american-express-bonus-40000-points-for-big-spenders/#comment-121287 Flexo Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:38:10 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/10/23/new-american-express-bonus-40000-points-for-big-spenders/#comment-121287 Brian: Any individual can be a sole proprietor without having to file any business paperwork with the federal or state government, so any individual can be considered a business. If you have a hobby that even has a *remote possibility* of bringing in income -- or even if you've ever sold an item on eBay -- you have a business. There are a million ways you could argue the point. On the <a href="http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/cards/amex-simply-cash/" rel="nofollow">SimplyCash application</a>, in the "your business" section, click the box to make the address match your home address, enter your phone number, choose an industry that represents your hobby ("Other" is always a good choice.) Leave Federal Tax ID blank, as sole proprietors can always use their SSN as a tax ID number. I wouldn't suggest exaggerating your business income. There is an option for $0, but chances are you'd be able to argue a higher business income. Brian: Any individual can be a sole proprietor without having to file any business paperwork with the federal or state government, so any individual can be considered a business. If you have a hobby that even has a *remote possibility* of bringing in income — or even if you’ve ever sold an item on eBay — you have a business. There are a million ways you could argue the point.

On the SimplyCash application, in the “your business” section, click the box to make the address match your home address, enter your phone number, choose an industry that represents your hobby (”Other” is always a good choice.) Leave Federal Tax ID blank, as sole proprietors can always use their SSN as a tax ID number.

I wouldn’t suggest exaggerating your business income. There is an option for $0, but chances are you’d be able to argue a higher business income.

]]> By: Brian http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/10/23/new-american-express-bonus-40000-points-for-big-spenders/#comment-121286 Brian Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:28:12 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/10/23/new-american-express-bonus-40000-points-for-big-spenders/#comment-121286 Flexo, This is related to the Simply Cash Amex card. My app says that they need to verify my business, but I don't own a business. In your previous post, it said I don't need to own/operate a business to apply. How does this work for a student w/ no business but wants a card? Flexo,

This is related to the Simply Cash Amex card. My app says that they need to verify my business, but I don’t own a business. In your previous post, it said I don’t need to own/operate a business to apply. How does this work for a student w/ no business but wants a card?

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