While even thinking about selling online, one should be ready with the documents which are required. Here, I’ll tell you about all the documents which are required for selling products online on different eCommerce marketplaces and will mention the approximate fees as well.
When it comes to starting an online product selling business, whether on Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Shopclues, etc., first, you need to prepare your mind that you are really ready to do it. Starting a whole new business on your own could be a time-consuming task.
Most people do leave their new businesses just because they aren’t seeing any growth initially. But success doesn’t come without hard work and patience.
Getting documents is just a first step towards starting your own business, your own brand. For that, you need to put initial efforts and some money into it.
Majorly you just need a GST certificate to start off with your new business. So, without wasting any more time, let’s straight discuss all the required documents which you need to start your online product selling business.
List Of Documents Required For Selling Online On Marketplaces
By the way, I still remember my days when I was planning to start a new eCommerce business, but, at the same time, was also struggling with the confusions related to the various paperwork involved with it.
After all such experiences, I would like to tell you that ‘relax’, all of this is not so difficult. The time will soon come when you will become a successful businessman, after putting in a lot of efforts.
So, for your reference, below are the required documents for selling products online:
1. Identification Proof
This is a basic yet important document you must be having right in your pocket. There are majorly 5 different documents out of which you can use anyone. These are:
- PAN Card
- Indian Passport
- Aadhar Card
- Driving License
- Voter ID Card
2. Address Proof
Here also, almost similar documents are required. These documents are:
- Aadhar Card
- Indian Passport
- Voter ID Card
- Electricity Bill (Latest)
- Bank Statement
If you have any of the document, stating your business address, among the above-mentioned ones, then you are ready to go ahead with the address proof.
Sometimes, it might happen that what if your business location address is different from what you all have above. This might happen if you’re starting your business in your house with your father’s name, or you have rented a location from a third person to start your business.
In that case, you need to type in a NOC document stating that you will run your business at this location and the owner of that particular place do not have any objection.
After obtaining NOC, you’ll be prepared with the valid proof and this will let you proceed to our next document.
3. Registered Business
This is a mandatory document which you need to acquire if you want to sell any product anywhere, whether online or offline.
You may register yourself as a Sole Proprietor, or create a Partnership, LLP, or maybe wish to register a Private Limited Company or OPC.
If you are starting fresh and single handedly, then I would recommend you to start by registering yourself as a sole proprietor. There is not much cost involve in this.
You just need to apply for a GST certificate via any Chartered Accountant, and he will mention your business name as your trade name and will mention ‘sole proprietor’ on it.
Registering for GST would costs you anywhere around INR 800 to INR 2,000. That depends on one CA to another and also depends on the product category you are into.
We too provide GST registration services! You may consider our services.
Click Here to Apply for GST Registration
Or Email us at ecommerceguideindia@outlook.com
Remember, a CA might ask for the NOC if your business location is different, as mentioned in the 2nd point.
4. Trademark Certificate
To protect your brand name and logo, you would need to apply for a trademark certificate.
However, initially, if you’re starting off with your new eCommerce business, then you may postpone this document.
Without this document, you may sell your products on almost all the platforms, includes Snapdeal, ShopClues, Paytm Mall, and in most of the categories on Flipkart.
You can also sell on Amazon without having this document, but the problem is that you’ll be able to sell your products with “Generic” as a brand name. For that, you need to apply for GTIN exemption in the category you want to sell.
If you want to register for a trademark certificate, then you would be spending around INR 8,000 to INR 15,000. But it does depends on the legal procedures and if in case any claim arises on your brand name or logo, then you might end spending a way more than this.
Hence, I would recommend you to choose your brand name wisely and create your logo in a unique way. Because copying this here might get you in trouble.
5. Bank Account
Well, on most of the eCommerce sites, you can register your business without having a current account with your business name. In this case, your personal savings account would work initially.
But I would highly recommend you to open a current account, whether in any public sector banks or with any private sector bank.
On Snapdeal, you cannot register your business without having a current account in the name of the business. Flipkart and Amazon also recommend you to join in with the current account.
And you should consider opening it, as you will be getting a lot of payments in the near future.
Running a current account would require you to maintaining a minimum balance in the bank account, depending on the tier level of the place you live in. Otherwise, you might end up paying some amount of penalty.
6. Business PAN Card
Again, this is not a mandatory document if you’re selling your products online as a sole proprietor. You may continue using your personal PAN card.
However, if you wish to register a private limited company or OPC, you would require to apply for one. To apply for this, it would cost anywhere around INR 150 to INR 400.
If you want us to create one for your business, we can arrange it at a reasonable price:
Mail us: ecommerceguideindia@outlook.com
Subject: Blog – <Name of the document you want to apply>
Inside: Mention your name, mobile number, and the name of the document you wanna apply for.Soon, you’ll get a call from one of our financial advisors.
Final Words On The Documents Required For Selling Online
After going through this article, I’m pretty sure you have understood the documentations and procedures you need to do if you want to start your new eCommerce business of selling on any of the popular marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, ShopClues, etc.
Also, do watch our video on this topic on YouTube:
I hope you found this article really helpful, if yes then don’t forget to share it with your known one who also wants to start their business. If you have any doubt or query, you can ‘comment‘ down here, I would love to help you out.
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Also, do check out our more articles on eCommerce here.
Thank you and happy selling 🙂
