½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Menu
½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Starting an Online Shop

Post new topic

iamharibo

So... I should probably meet with a lawyer or someone to sort this out but thought I would give this place a go- if anyone can help at all I would really appreciate it!

I want to set up a little online jewellery shop. I make jewellery and was thinking of setting up a shop on bigcartel.com which is a free website that can host my shop for me.

This is just an 'on the side' type thing and I have a full time job which is registered with ETC and I pay NI and tax etc.

I've tried googling what I need to do but nothing is very clear.

* Do I need to register the name of my shop in an official way? Any idea how/who I would go to?

I don't expect to make much money from this although of course it'd be nice if it was a success but do I need to register this extra income?

I suppose I'll have to 'set up a company'. I'm totally clueless about company structures etc. It'll just me be- I'll finance myself, buy the bits, make and sell the items. Are there any websites you guys know of that explain all this kinda stuff in very simple format?

I know I sound like a total idiot but I'd just like to get a little idea of what would need to be done before I go and pay for a lawyer or something!

See also

Job offers in MaltaFinding work in GozoFinding work in MaltaFinding work in Saint Julian'sSetting up a business in Malta
iamharibo

Or maybe you know someone who is educated in this matter who could assist me? I understand I'd probably have to pay for this kind of information, any recommendations on helpful and affordable people?

Thanks!

Designs

good topic,
hope they'll answer you :)

ricky

Hi haribo,

the side you certainly have to look into is the VAT question. Check out this info for details :



As a small business entity you will probably be under the threshold for charging VAT but you should register and get a VAT number.

You would need to declare taxes on any profits made if you want to be correct so you would need to keep books.

It might be worthwhile to think about using a free shop hosting site or paying for your hosting. It doesn't cost that much and might be better in the end. I'm not saying anything against bigcartel , it is just something I would consider if I was thinking of starting an online shop.

Cheers
Ricky

Eagle

I wouldnt register a company. Minimum you'd be paying for setup would be about 3000 Euros or more depending on who you choose. YOu would also need to register for VAT, etc if you are a company and comply with filing returns. Firms charge about 250 per return for a small firm. you would need 4 of these per annum, plus filings for salary payroll etc if you want to pull a salary. plus audit. Annual running fees for a small concern would be about 3000-4000 euros per annum exc VAT.

Heres my 2 cents but dont hold me to the advice.
Setup your domain in another jurisdiction US, UK wherever.
Any funds which are transmitted to a non Malta account are tax free essentially.
So record revenue in Non Malta based account.
If your product is shipped out of Malta, you ship it out at zero value for customs or nominal 1 euro.
You collect revenue on your website via paypal or some other billing firm connected to a non Malta account.

Technically you havent sold from Malta :cool:

good luck

Articles to help you in your expat project in Malta

  • Finding work in Valletta
    Finding work in Valletta

    When it comes to relocating to Malta, many people think about working in Valletta. Located centrally on the ...

  • Finding work in Sliema
    Finding work in Sliema

    Working in Sliema is a popular choice among expats living in Malta. Tas-Sliema, typically known as just Sliema ...

  • Teaching English in Malta
    Teaching English in Malta

    For people who have English as their first language and can legally work in Malta, an obvious activity is to ...

  • Internships in Malta
    Internships in Malta

    Performing an internship in Malta can be an enriching and worthwhile experience. Indeed, Malta has been ...

  • How to drive in Malta
    How to drive in Malta

    Malta is a relatively small island measuring only 27km long and 14,5km wide, so it seems on paper to be very ...

  • Accidents and emergencies in Malta
    Accidents and emergencies in Malta

    A stay abroad is usually associated with great memories. However, it could happen that an accident or emergency ...

  • Resident and work permit for Malta
    Resident and work permit for Malta

    Getting a resident card and a work permit in Malta is an essential step for any expat. Living in Malta does ...

  • Accommodation in Malta
    Accommodation in Malta

    As an expat in Malta, one of the first steps is to find accommodation. Malta has a quickly and continuously ...

All of Malta's guide articles