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Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

How does one upgrade to professional selling status using a ghost account? Verification requires a photo ID. If billing information does not match this, is there anyway around this?

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

You don't open the accounts as individual accounts, you open them as a corporation's account. Then you just need to provide the tax ID.

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Upgrading to amazon pro doesn't require ID verification for the US

But it will require EIN / information

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Doesn't it require ID verification if you're registered as a sole proprietor?

My EIN is linked to my previous banned account as that was the one I was operating my LLC under. It might be important to note that I was banned during the time in which my LLC was being approved, but then did include my LLC title in my appeal and updated my EIN on Amazon.

I'm new to how things work with an LLC and EIN.

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Don't register as a sole proprietor.

Register a new LLC or S/C Corporation and you get a brand new EIN

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

I registered an LLC after I was banned in hopes it would encourage reactivation. I was previously operating as a individual/sole proprietor pro merchant.

I included the name (*Banned account name*, LLC) in my appeal and updated the information on Amazon - *Banned account name*, LLC with associated EIN. This was all after my account was suspended.

Can I register my new account with new name and billing information, using this previous EIN?

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

No you can't. Even if you can why risk it, you have nothing invested in that LLC, it's basically a shell company. Dump it and register a new one.

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

What's the cheapest/quickest way to register an LLC? I used LegalZoom last time because I was new to the process but it seemed pricey.

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Go to the state's website (each state that has electronic filing, which is most if not all of them has their own website), register the corporation. Go to the IRS website and request an EIN. Then go to the bank the next day and open a new bank account and get a business credit card too.

I know my state charges around $150 for filing the corporation, and you can open a bank account with a couple grand for the minimum deposit to avoid service fees. It basically costs nothing to open new shell corporations.

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Thank you. You've been a lot of help. One final question: I mailed in my registration to the state yesterday, can I apply for the EIN right away or do I have to wait until I hear back from the state?

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Yeah, you can apply right away, the IRS takes a couple weeks before the EIN becomes part of it's official records anyway. Just make sure all the information matches exactly.

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Just provide EIN, such as the number or paperwork from the IRS with the EIN on it?

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

This is outdated information

Now the require business license, utility, passport and bank statement. All those are the possible document requests

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Are you eventually forced into using a Pro Sellers account at anytime? Say if you're doing very well, will Amzn eventually say 'okay, you need to be a Pro because you're sales are high'?

I've got an LLC EIN attached to my stealth that I've been running for 2yrs now and just these past few months I decided to do FBA and I'm making decent sales (projected $6k in my first 3 weeks, 65% profit). Im just worried if I start doing too good, Amzn will request dox.

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

That could potentially happen and I would just make sure I am prepared. Amazon will charge that fee for Pro accounts and make sure that you have someone from the Marketplace that can provide you with the right VCC for a Pro Ghost Account to keep Amazon from suspending your account.

Re: Upgrading a ghost account to professional status
 

Thinking about a second account, so the tips provided def help! Thanks