This might sound like a stupid question but I'm going to throw it out there and claim later that I was so exhausted from coming back in from the Easter egg hunt with nothing to show for many hours exhausted in the hunt but an empty basket and huge thirst that needed quenched, I wasn't in right mind when I posted this so... Ya ready?

Years ago, I had a bonafide business and was set up to accept bank cards as payment. Later, was a power seller on ebay, and as joe-private citizen seller on ebay, could take credit cards and receive paypal payments just as if I was still in that original business.

I've spent a bit of time looking through some folks on this forum's links where in particular, they have shopping carts, take payments, etc. I'm inclined to believe but must ask... For those of you who accept paypal or google credit card payments through your website cart/checkout, do you have an actual business license to make that happen or are you able to get your web business going and taking place in a similar fashion as to my own ebay story above, (where I was no longer in business) outside of the ebay gig. Just trying to get my arms around how big a hurdle it is, once the cart design, etc; is underway.

Thanks,
Chris

You don't "need" a business license to open a shopping cart site, but you "should" have a business license to operate one. The function of the Shopping Cart Creator sites doesn't hinge on that though, that's something you work with on your own to have established.

Thanks Jo Ann, just curious. Any undertaking at the moment would be on a part time basis and I thought I'd check with others to get their perspective.

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Hi Chris. You don't need a business license to take payments with PayPal and Google checkout, nor do you need any form of license to have a web presence including having your own online shop.

What you do need to do at some stage however, is advise the appropriate government department within your own country that you are running a business so that they register you for paying taxes on your profits.

Whilst different countries and zones have different legal requirements, I personally wouldn't recommend contacting ANY government department until an online business is actually trading and taking money on a regular basis. A lot of new online ventures unfortunately flop completely, with little or even no sales. What you don't want to get into is filling out endless forms, getting registered and then having to prove to some over zealous 'rubber stamper' that the business hasn't taken any money.

Filling out your profile page sometimes help answer questions like this as someone from your country / state etc might know an exact answer !

Personally in UK i am just registered as self employed, all be it part time as i am semi-retired.

Once a year 6 April i fill out a short tax assessment form , and as the tax office from my registration know i am an internet only seller, with minimal turnover its just about half hours effort, with a printout of my paypal and google payments it could not be simpler.

With SCCP i think its possible to print out all sales to make it even simpler, if not i am sure it will in future (CC suggestion)