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“If You Have a Legitimate Business, Even as Small as Reselling on eBay, Don’t Be Scared”

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    Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers. Welcome to the first installment of our Small Business Card Reader Success Series, where Million Mile Secrets Readers share how they opened a small business credit card to get Big Travel with Small Money!

    Small Business Card Interview:   Juan Ruiz

    Juan is our first small business card reader success story to share how he was approved for a small business card.  And what the process was like.
    Oslo With My Twin Girls

    A big thank you to Juan for sharing his story!

    1.   Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your small business.

    I’m Juan, also known on my blog as Double Duty Daddy, a dad of twins and avid points and miles enthusiast.  Beside my day job as a higher education professional, I’m a licensed realtor and need a small business card for all my real estate expenses.

    View From My Suite at the Luxurious Park Hyatt Tokyo

    2.   Why did you decide on the card(s) you chose?

    A few years ago, I had the Chase Ink Bold and Ink Plus (no longer available), both business credit cards from Chase.

    Then, both were discontinued and I downgraded to Chase’s only no-annual fee business card, the Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card.  I love the Chase Ink Cash because I earn 5% cash back (or 5X points) per $1 spent on monthly bills like cell phone, internet and cable, AND office supply stores up to $25,000 each anniversary year.

    Japan Airlines First Class to Tokyo Thanks to American Airlines Miles

    You also earn 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants with NO annual fee.  Coupled with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve and a no-annual-fee Chase Freedom or Chase Freedom Unlimited, you have the ideal Chase trifecta if you ask me.

    3.   Describe the application.  ex. Did you apply as a sole proprietor with your social security number or some other way?

    I am a licensed realtor, so on my Chase Ink applications I applied with my Social Security Number.  No need for an EIN (Employer Identification Number).  It’s easy to be approved if you are a sole proprietor and can prove you bring in some income, even if it’s a small amount.

    All-Inclusive Hyatt Ziva Cancun for 25,000 Hyatt Points per Night

    4.   Which factors do you think lead to your applications being approved?

    Getting approved for a business credit card is easier than you may think.

    Be prepared to estimate your gross income from your sole proprietorship.  Whether it be reselling items on eBay, selling houses, or owning your own dental practice, they most likely will ask you a few basic questions about your business.  Normally, how much revenue you bring in and what the business is about.

    Beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo

    I was approved for one of my Ink cards for having a resell ticket business where I simply purchased event tickets and resold them on 3rd-party websites.

    5.   What would you tell someone who’s never applied for a small business card?

    Don’t be scared.  If you have a legitimate small business, one as small as buying items and reselling on eBay or Amazon, then apply.  Just do your research ahead of time to know which is the right small business credit card for you.

    6.   Now the fun part!  How do you plan to use your miles or points to get Big Travel with Small Money? 🙂

    I am consistently earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points from the trifecta of credit card products I have, so I plan to continue utilizing Chase’s transfer partners like British Airways, Southwest and Hyatt to get Big Travel with Small Money.

    Andaz Papagayo in Liberia, Costa Rica, With Chase Hyatt Annual Free Night Certificate

    Thanks for sharing your small business card experience, Juan!

    Want to Share Your Story?

    If you’d like to share your small business card success, please send me a note!  Emily and I would love to hear about how it went for you!
    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)