Selling On E-Bay: Small Business?

[writer811]

I was wondering if anyone knows if you need a small business license to sell products on E-Bay? Is this only required with a certain amount of income? Let me know about your expertise on this.

[KNH]

Here, I found this. Maybe it will help a little ?

If you sell stuff online, most of the time you'll need a "certificate of resale," but you don't need one for Ebay. You need other licenses for services other than selling.

Here: http://www.trainingu4auctions.com/_g...iness_license/ they tell you that EBay does not require a license.

You do not need a business license to sell on eBay. However, as you may have already learned from my books "eBay Business at Your Fingertips", “eBay Rescue Problem Solver” and “eBay Rescue Profit maker,” you cannot be a serious seller on eBay until you have a business license.

There are many good reasons for an eBay seller to become a bona fide business and obtain a business license. The primary reason is so you can deal directly with distributors and wholesalers. The first question they will ask when you apply to be one of their dealers is, “What is your EIN tax number?” If you do not have a tax number, they will not sell to you and your new eBay venture is stalled. You obtain your EIN tax number with a business license. So let’s get you legal and licensed as easily and inexpensively as possible.

Contrary to popular belief, a business license is fairly easy and inexpensive to obtain if you know where, what and how to file all the required forms. Best of all, you do not need to pay expensive attorney fees.

Most small businesses are Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships or the increasingly popular Limited Liability Corporations (LLC). The key to making the decision as to which type of business is right for you is based mostly on minimizing your taxes. Note that Sole Proprietorships are usually taxed about 15% higher than the other types of businesses. An LLC business provides you with security (separating your business liabilities from your personal assets), minimizes paperwork compared with an S or C Corporation, and the profits transfer directly to your personal income for much easier tax preparation.

Almost all eBay sellers that I know, are now choosing to become LLCs.

[tetutato]

Even kids use eBay to sell their items on eBay. Doubt that you'll need one if they don't.

[Waynefire]

It depends on how much you plan on selling. If you are treating it like a business and plan on using this as your main income with a supplier and everything else set up in line, then you may need to have the license. However, if you are only selling one or two items, then it may not be worth going to the hassle of getting a license,

[writer811]

Here, I found this. Maybe it will help a little ?

If you sell stuff online, most of the time you'll need a "certificate of resale," but you don't need one for Ebay. You need other licenses for services other than selling.

Here: http://www.trainingu4auctions.com/_g...iness_license/ they tell you that EBay does not require a license.

You do not need a business license to sell on eBay. However, as you may have already learned from my books "eBay Business at Your Fingertips", “eBay Rescue Problem Solver” and “eBay Rescue Profit maker,” you cannot be a serious seller on eBay until you have a business license.

There are many good reasons for an eBay seller to become a bona fide business and obtain a business license. The primary reason is so you can deal directly with distributors and wholesalers. The first question they will ask when you apply to be one of their dealers is, “What is your EIN tax number?” If you do not have a tax number, they will not sell to you and your new eBay venture is stalled. You obtain your EIN tax number with a business license. So let’s get you legal and licensed as easily and inexpensively as possible.

Contrary to popular belief, a business license is fairly easy and inexpensive to obtain if you know where, what and how to file all the required forms. Best of all, you do not need to pay expensive attorney fees.

Most small businesses are Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships or the increasingly popular Limited Liability Corporations (LLC). The key to making the decision as to which type of business is right for you is based mostly on minimizing your taxes. Note that Sole Proprietorships are usually taxed about 15% higher than the other types of businesses. An LLC business provides you with security (separating your business liabilities from your personal assets), minimizes paperwork compared with an S or C Corporation, and the profits transfer directly to your personal income for much easier tax preparation.

Almost all eBay sellers that I know, are now choosing to become LLCs.

Thank you, that was very helpful. I don't suppose you know a good place to obtain a small business license because I don't really know where to look. My own theatre group required some special paperwork that isn't the same as a small business license.

[Isabellas2007]

You may want to look at the different government sites or even the local governing body in your area. I know in Ohio I had to get a delivery vendors license which classified as my business license. Now, I am not sure what other countries or states would require you to have.

[livvi]

You need to check local laws in your area. If you are purchasing items with the sole intention to sell them on, Ebay themselves will consider you a business seller. This is regardless of how big your operation is, whether you have a steady supplier etc.

[speakslow]

E-Bay exists to make it very easy for you to sell goods.

I would encourage you to go ahead, then worry about the rest later.

[kornee]

You won't need a license to sell in ebay as far as I know. But then setting up a store in ebay can sometimes be daunting...
And you'll have to pay monthly for the store you'll create. its somewhat like having your own ecommerce store.

[DoctorWho]

I have seen where people have created brick-and-mortar eBay stores where others can take their products and have them sold online, but I'm a bit clueless as to the success rate of these establishments. One would think that it's adding a complication where it is not needed.