Jannese Torres

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Blogging to the top: How Jannese Torres spreads side-hustle empowerment with help from American Express

With degrees in molecular biology and chemistry, Jannese Torres found early financial freedom in her twenties, serving a Fortune 50 company as an engineering manager. But deep down, the daily grind left her feeling unfulfilled. Searching for a creative outlet, she started blogging about Latin-inspired cooking from her Florida home in 2013. Following an unexpected layoff, her hobby quickly took center stage.

“When I started my food blog, I didn’t have a specific niche,” she recalls. “But when I started sharing my Puerto Rican family recipes, my side hustle really started to take off.”

Turning passion into profit

Instead of returning to a 9-to-5 job, Torres seized the opportunity to turn her food blog, Delish D’Lites, into a full-time business. Within two years, she transformed it, drawing nearly 4 million visitors annually and generating six figures through ads and brand partnerships. Now a self-proclaimed “Latina Money Expert,” Torres uses her platform to help clients build service-based businesses while educating underserved communities on entrepreneurship, investing, and financial independence. Her digital courses and podcast, Yo Quiero Dinero, have clinched her a loving and loyal fanbase of aspiring tycoons.

“My blog showed me the power of creating something from nothing,” she says. “But at the core of it, I’m a content creator who’s passionate about sharing my experiences and knowledge with folks.”

A top-tier business toolkit

Across multiple pursuits, Torres has found American Express’s business products especially valuable. A loyal Amex Member since 2008, she has taken full advantage of offerings designed specifically for small business owners, including the Blue Business^® Plus Card, an American Express^® Business Checking account, an American Express^® Business Line of Credit, and American Express Business Blueprint^™. She says these tools have all played a role in supporting her ventures.

Flexible spending with the right rewards

With zero annual fee, the American Express Blue Business^® Plus Card, offers the financial flexibility that Torres says is handy for running a successful, growing business. “Amex has always been generous with the credit limit,” she explains, “which is nice, especially when you’re first starting out as a business owner.” One of the Blue Business^® Plus Card’s standout features is its Expanded Buying Power, allowing business owners to spend more, when necessary, with the credit limit adjusting to their spending habits, payment history, and financial profile.

In addition to cash flow flexibility, Torres enjoys the rewards that come with the Card. She earns 2X Membership Rewards^® points on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, with no category restrictions, and 1X points on other purchases. Plus, business expenses are low-stress: “I feel comfortable putting business travel or large investment–type purchases on the Card,” she says. “I know that if I have any sort of issue, Amex’s customer service is always top-notch.”

Peace of mind with available business funding

Torres also values her American Express^® Business Line of Credit, which can offer convenient and flexible business funding. Although she hasn’t yet had to use it, she remembers a close call in 2022. “I was planning for a live conference, and I was potentially coming up short on some vendor payouts,” she explains. “Just knowing the line of credit was there really helped me sleep at night.”

Streamlined online banking

As Torres’ business evolved, so did her banking needs. So, she opened an American Express^® Business Checking account*. “I kept running into issues at other banks where the deposits I was trying to make were too large!” she laughs. Although deposit limits and other restrictions may apply, Torres found that with the digital bank account, mobile deposits can be seamless. She really appreciates the account’s competitive APY noting that it allows her deposits to earn interest. “It’s nice knowing that your money’s not just sitting there stagnant,” she remarks.

The power of cash flow confidence

With several American Express business products in her arsenal, Torres makes use of American Express Business Blueprint^™ to streamline her cash flow management. The free digital platform provides a consolidated view of her American Express^® Business Card, Business Checking, and Business Line of Credit, plus personalized cash flow insights that can help her make better-informed financial decisions for her business. “Being able to easily see my balances and make payments in one place has made managing my finances much simpler.”

For Torres, the decision to partner with American Express wasn’t just a business move – it was tradition. “My family is full of diehard Amex fans,” she says. Following in those footsteps, Torres has relied on American Express business products to help her scale and sustain her business and help her community. The trust she’s built in the brand has given her the support to take her business from dishes to bigger dreams.

*American Express^® Business Checking

Deposit Accounts offered by American Express National Bank. Member FDIC.

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