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How thinly do we need to spread our sales between accounts?
 

Since obviously we want to spread our sales between different stealth accounts so that we stay far below the $20,000/200 item annual requirement for ssn...is a there a good rule of thumb on how much we should spread them?

In other words, what's a good revenue number to stay below so that you don't need to worry about being asked for an ssn?

$1000 and 20 sales a month?
$500 and 10 sales a month?
$250 and 5 sales a month?

My items are about $50 each and I'd ideally like to be able to gross around $4000-$5000 in sales a month. So I'm trying to figure out how many stealth accounts I need.

Or this there a better way to do this?

Selling on just one account at a time doesn't make sense for me because if I had a regular account I could sell 2-3 of these daily, so only selling on one account at a time would be a huge revenue hitter because of the initial 10 item monthly limit.

Re: How thinly do we need to spread our sales between accounts?
 

There is no rhyme or reason to when they ask for SSN. My experience is that I have been asked as early as selling 120 items.

If you was wanting to average $4k-$5k/month, on new stealth accounts, I would probably say about 8-10 stealths to play it safe at first. That may even be overkill.

The problem you will have is selling so much on a new EB acct. Your limits will usually start at 10/1000. If you start maxing that out out the gate with $50 items x 10 per month, then EB may have a problem

Re: How thinly do we need to spread our sales between accounts?
 

Keep in mind that Paypal does look at PROJECTED sales...so factor that in your decision OP - rate of sales...

Re: How thinly do we need to spread our sales between accounts?
 

I haven't been tracking this for long enough to have solid experience based information, but theoretically speaking $1,666 each month for 12 months= $20,000. So it would be pretty fair for PP to project that you will meet the threshold if youre doing business to the tune of $1,600 or more every month.

My first account got the request at $1,500 per month for 2 months running (3 month old account), around 150 sales.

Re: How thinly do we need to spread our sales between accounts?
 

In your case, it wasn't the $ sales, it was the 150 transactions. Thats pretty much when everyone is given the first request for SSN

Re: How thinly do we need to spread our sales between accounts?
 

No, it is not an SSN that is wanted for this.

PAYPAL are obliged by the IRS to find out the tax info from sellers.

So because stealth sellers have no access to SSNs, other options can be used to work.

Look into the process of EIN for these issues.

=}-

Re: How thinly do we need to spread our sales between accounts?
 

Good posts on EIN by vogeltron, jeffweico, GB, and others