Do I need a Business license for online shopping business?

[JJS]

I have registed a business as a sole proprietor as wholesaler for general merchandise. I am now thinking to have a side business to do online shopping as well, do I need to change my business nature on the BR? Am I allowed to do a side business?

[dchasser]

Actually you could simply register with Amazon.com or a similar website to sell your merchandise, its alot more convenient. I don't think you have to register a new company to do that, doesn't make sense.

[asiandivergal]

Hi there,

I don't think you need to register your online biz as a business - there are certain exemptions:

Businesses specified in the First Schedule :

1. Any business of a licensed hawker who sells or exposes for sale any drink, goods, wares or merchandise of any kind whatsoever, or who offers for hire his skill in handicraft or craftmanship.

2. Any business of a craftsman who -
(a) exercises his craft on his own domestic premises;
(b) does not display the products of his craftsmanship for sale in public; and
(c) does not employ any person other than members of his immediate family for the purpose of his business.

3. Any business of -
(a) a taxi driver;
(b) a trishaw rider;
(c) a sampan man plying his sampan for hire; or
(d) a farmer, a fish pond keeper or a prawn pond keeper who
(i) does not employ any person other than members of his immediate family;
(ii) does not own the land on which his farm or pond stands; and
(iii) does not charge members of the public any fee for admission.

I would say your online biz falls under cause 2a and 2b, so I don't think you need to register it as a business. Here is the link to the full article:

http://www.acra.gov.sg/business/whatbiz.html

I am also running an online biz, but only registered under the HDB Home Office Scheme. At that time, I tried asking them whether I needed to register the business, but did not get very coherent answers (became more confused), so i just ploughed through the website and tried to get my own answers