Question 1

What is commercial registration? Who is required to register?

Accepted Answer

Commercial registration (commonly known as "trade registration") is the process of notifying a government authority that you are operating a commercial business, pursuant to the Commercial Registration Act B.E. 2499. Who must register • Natural persons who sell goods (whether at a physical store or online), manufacture handicrafts/industrial goods, act as brokers/commission agents, operate transport services, rice mills, sawmills using machinery, etc. • Ordinary partnerships (unregistered) that operate any of the above businesses • Companies/limited partnerships that engage in certain additional business types, such as selling CDs/DVDs, providing internet services, hosting server space, operating online marketplaces, selling gems/gold, or operating karaoke services • Foreign juristic persons that establish branch offices in Thailand Businesses that are exempt • Peddling and street vending • Government operations and local government organizations • Foundations, associations, cooperatives, and farmers' groups Note: By law, commercial registration must be completed within 30 days of starting business operations.

Question 2

Do I need commercial registration if I sell products online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Anyone who sells products or services online, regardless of the channel, is considered to be conducting electronic commerce and must register commercially. Channels that require registration • Selling through your own website • Selling on marketplaces such as Shopee, Lazada • Selling via social media such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LINE Additional documents for online stores In addition to the standard documents required for any shop, you must also prepare screenshots including: • A page or post showing product photos with prices • The homepage of your website/page/online shop • A page or post showing payment methods Our team will prepare all documents for you, including guidance on the specific details to show in each screenshot.

Question 3

Where do I file for commercial registration?

Accepted Answer

The filing location depends on the area where the place of business is located. Bangkok — File at the Administrative Division of the District Office where the place of business is located (there are 50 districts in Bangkok). Other provinces — File at the Municipality Office or Sub-district Administrative Organization (SAO) where the place of business is located. Important: You must file at the local government office in the area where your place of business is located. Filing across districts or areas is not permitted. Our team handles the entire filing process. You do not need to visit any government office yourself.

Question 4

How long does the process take?

Accepted Answer

Commercial registration takes relatively little time compared to other types of juristic person registration. Estimated timeline: • Document preparation and form completion: approximately 1-3 business days (after receiving all information) • Filing and receiving the certificate: the commercial registration certificate is typically issued within the same day if all documents are correct and complete Cases that may take longer than usual: • Incomplete or incorrect documents that need to be corrected and resubmitted • Issues with the premises documents, such as a missing lease agreement or consent letter • Busy periods with heavy workloads at the office Important note: The registration date on the commercial registration certificate will be the date the officer actually accepts the filing. Backdating is not possible. Therefore, if you want the registration date to match your business opening date, you should file as soon as possible. The total process averages approximately 3-7 business days. Our team will complete the process as quickly as possible.

Question 5

What types of premises can be used for commercial registration?

Accepted Answer

Various types of premises can be used as the location for a commercial business. Eligible premises • Residential houses (very common, especially for online stores) • Shophouses, commercial buildings • Spaces in markets, shopping malls • Offices, office buildings Condominiums • For online stores, registration may be possible depending on the discretion of the local District Office/Municipality officer. • For physical stores, it is quite difficult unless the space is on the ground floor of a condominium designated for commercial use, and consent from the condominium juristic person manager is required. Important limitation One house registration can only be used for one commercial registration. Regardless of the building type, if you want to register a new shop at the same address, you must cancel the existing registration of the old shop first. This limitation differs from companies or limited partnerships, where a single house registration can be used to register multiple juristic persons.

Question 6

What is registered capital? How much should I declare?

Accepted Answer

Registered capital in commercial registration refers to the amount of money you use to start the business, which must be stated in the registration application form. Key points • There is no minimum registered capital required by law for commercial registration. You can declare the amount actually used to start your business. • No bank deposit proof or capital certification of any kind is required (unlike foundation registration, which has minimum capital requirements). • It is merely a declaration on the form — you do not need to deposit or guarantee any funds. How much should you declare? • Declare the amount actually used or expected to be used to start the business, such as product costs, equipment costs, and rental expenses. • For example, a small online store might declare 10,000-50,000 THB, while a physical store might declare 50,000-200,000 THB, depending on the nature of the business. If you are unsure about the appropriate amount, our team will recommend a suitable figure based on your business type.

Question 7

What is the difference between commercial registration and company registration?

Accepted Answer

These are two entirely different things. Many people confuse them. Commercial registration • It is a notification that you are operating a commercial business to the local government authority. • Suitable for natural persons who want to do business in their own name. • Does not create a new juristic person. The owner has unlimited personal liability for debts. • Filed at the District Office/Municipality/SAO. Company registration (Company Limited / Limited Partnership) • It is the establishment of a new juristic person separate from the owner. • Suitable for businesses that require higher credibility, work with organizations, or need to separate personal and business assets. • Shareholders have limited liability up to their capital contribution. • Filed at the Department of Business Development (DBD). Which should you choose? • Choose commercial registration if it is a small business, selling in your personal name, and you do not yet need a corporate structure. • Choose company registration if you want to limit liability, work with organizations or government agencies, or plan to expand the business in the future. If you are unsure which type is right for you, consult our team. We will help analyze the most suitable option based on your business.

Question 8

Does commercial registration expire? Do I need to renew it?

Accepted Answer

It does not expire and does not need to be renewed. A commercial registration certificate is valid indefinitely until the business ceases operations or the registration is revoked. However, if any registered information changes, you must file an amendment registration within 30 days of the change. Examples of changes requiring amendment registration • Changing the store name • Relocating the place of business • Changing the type of products or services • Changing the capital amount When ceasing operations, you must file a business cessation registration within 30 days of the date of cessation. Our team also provides amendment registration and cessation registration services.

Question 9

What taxes apply after commercial registration?

Accepted Answer

Commercial registration is not a tax matter. It is merely a notification to the local government authority (District Office/Municipality/SAO) that you are operating a commercial business. Tax matters are handled by a separate authority (the Revenue Department). Taxes that commercial operators should know about 1. Personal income tax • Those who register commercially as natural persons must include income from business operations in their annual personal income tax calculation. • File Form PND 90 by March of every year. 2. Value Added Tax (VAT) • If income from selling goods/services exceeds 1.8 million THB per year, you must register for VAT with the Revenue Department. • Commercial registration and VAT are separate matters and do not need to be filed simultaneously. 3. Withholding tax • If you hire workers or pay for services from others, you may need to withhold tax and remit it to the Revenue Department. Our team will advise on all relevant tax matters after registration is complete. If you need additional VAT registration, we can handle it at the same time.

Question 10

Why should I register commercially?

Accepted Answer

Although the law requires registration within 30 days of starting business operations, in practice the main reasons most business operators register commercially are: 1. Supporting loan applications • Many banks and financial institutions request a commercial registration certificate as proof of an actual business. • It increases the chances of business loan approval. • Approval criteria depend on the policies of each financial institution. 2. Building credibility • Customers and business partners have more confidence when they see that a shop is properly registered. • It serves as evidence for contracts or business negotiations. • It allows opening a bank account in the store's name. 3. Tax compliance • Commercial registration helps you enter the tax system properly. • It reduces the risk of retrospective audits by the Revenue Department. • In practice, the most common issues operators face are not fines for failing to register, but rather failing to file personal income tax returns and exceeding the VAT threshold without being registered for VAT (see the FAQ on "What taxes apply after commercial registration?" for details).

Question 11

Can foreigners register commercially?

Accepted Answer

The Commercial Registration Act B.E. 2499 does not prohibit foreigners from registering, but in practice it is nearly impossible for typical retail shops due to restrictions under another law. Why is it practically impossible? • Retail and wholesale trade are listed in List Three of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542, which restricts these businesses for foreigners. • Before being able to register commercially, you must first obtain a Foreign Business License (FBL) from the Department of Business Development, which takes 60-120 days and has a very low approval rate for general retail businesses. • A minimum capital of 3 million THB is required under Section 14 of the Act, along with proof of capital importation. • A Work Permit specifying the matching business type is required. • If you attempt to file at the District Office without an FBL, the officer will refuse the registration. Online sales (e-Commerce) also fall under the same restrictions, as they are considered retail/wholesale trade under the FBA. More suitable alternatives Foreigners who wish to operate a retail business in Thailand typically establish a Company Limited with Thai shareholders, which is the more common and legally clear approach. If you are a foreigner wishing to operate a business in Thailand, consult our team for an analysis of the most suitable approach.

Question 12

What obligations do I have after commercial registration?

Accepted Answer

After receiving the commercial registration certificate, the business operator has the following legal obligations: Immediate obligations • Display the commercial registration certificate prominently at the place of business (failure to display is subject to a fine). • Display the business name sign clearly and visually at the business premises. Obligations upon changes • File an amendment registration within 30 days when there are changes to the store name, premises relocation, product/service changes, etc. • File a cessation registration within 30 days when ceasing operations. Additional licenses (depending on business type) • If selling alcohol or alcoholic beverages, you must obtain an alcohol sales license from the Excise Department. • If selling cigarettes or tobacco, you must obtain a tobacco sales license from the Excise Department. • Certain business types may require additional licenses from relevant agencies, e.g., restaurants (food sales license), pharmacies (FDA license), etc. Tax matters (separate from commercial registration) • File an annual personal income tax return (PND 90) every year. • If income exceeds 1.8 million THB per year, VAT registration is required. • If you employ workers, withholding tax filings are required. Our team will clearly advise on all obligations and relevant licenses after registration is complete. If you need amendment registration or VAT registration in the future, contact our team immediately.

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What to Prepare

Required Documents

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Document and Form Preparation

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