You don't need a registered company to get a small business credit card — and if you travel, that's worth knowing. American Express's business card lineup offers some of the biggest welcome bonuses around, and a guide from One Mile at a Time walks through how solo travellers and side-hustlers can get in on them.

The headline news for anyone who's put off applying: a sole proprietorship counts as a business. Renting out a property, freelancing, selling online or driving for a rideshare app can all qualify. No incorporation, no office, no registration in most places. On the application, you can use your own name as the legal business name, your home address and phone number, list one employee, state your Social Security number as the tax ID, and honestly report 'less than a year' in business. The key rule is simply to answer truthfully.

What makes Amex business cards unusually low-risk is the pre-qualification check: applicants see a decision with no impact on their personal credit score. If you're declined, there's no ding. Only if you accept the card does a hard inquiry hit your report. Anecdotally, these approvals are also among the easiest to get — the charge-card style products like the Business Platinum and Business Gold are reportedly the simplest of all.

A few rules shape the game. Welcome offers are generally 'once in a lifetime' per card, though Amex will warn you via a pop-up during the application if you're not eligible, and some people report becoming eligible again after roughly seven years. Targeted offers with 'no lifetime language' in the terms can also unlock bonuses on cards you've already had. Cardholders are typically capped at five credit cards at once and two approvals per 90 days — but charge cards like the Business Platinum and Business Gold don't count toward either limit.

There's a bonus for points strategists: Amex business cards don't show up on your personal credit report as new accounts, so they don't count toward Chase's strict 5/24 rule. That makes them a way to keep collecting big bonuses without burning Chase eligibility.

So which cards matter for travellers? On the points side, the Business Platinum (heavy on perks), the Business Gold (strong bonus categories) and the no-annual-fee-adjacent Blue Business Plus all earn Membership Rewards points. Hotel fans can pick up the Hilton Honors Business card (elite status perks) or the Marriott Bonvoy Business (annual free night award plus bonus elite nights). Delta loyalists have the SkyMiles Reserve Business and Platinum Business cards for spending toward status. Cash-back options include the Blue Business Cash and the Graphite Business Cash Unlimited with 2% back.

For travellers who fund flights and hotels partly through rewards, the barrier to entry is lower than most people assume. Expect an instant decision in many cases; a 'pending' status isn't a denial, so supply any requested documents quickly. If declined, you can ask Amex to reconsider or reapply later once your income or score changes.

Full rules and card comparisons via One Mile at a Time.