What status should you choose to launch your e-commerce site?

Launching an e-commerce site requires first choosing the legal status of your e-commerce business. It is a strategic, multi-criteria, and multi-impact choice.

Before even thinking about commercial referencing (assortment of an e-shop) or SEO referencing (positioning on the SERPs), you have to think about its legal status.

How to choose the right form of company to launch an e-commerce site?

Launching an eCommerce site can be done in several legal formats: micro-business, classic sole proprietorship, or commercial company.

The use of service providers specializing in business creation is strongly recommended for an e-commerce business. By way of illustration, a comparison of the different forms of a well-made company allows the web entrepreneur to make the judicious choice of his structure.

The legal form of an online sales business is decided during the establishment of the business plan. Several data appearing in this flagship document are decisive for optimizing the selection of the legal status of your online activity: number of partners, expected turnover, sources of funding, etc.

The micro-enterprise scheme to start an e-commerce site

The tax and social system of the auto-enterprise are ideal for testing an online sales project:

  • risk taking is limited.
  • liquidation is simple
  • a very encouraging tax system: choosing the right status to launch an electronic commerce is also a matter of tax optimization.

The micro-enterprise regime imposes CA ceilings and does not authorize association. Thus, if your business plan provides for sales exceeding 170,000 euros in the first year and/or the presence of associates or employees, it is better to choose a commercial form to launch your eCommerce site.

A commercial company for the launch of its e-commerce site

The legislator has provided several forms of company suitable for launching an online business. We invite you to take a detailed look at the advantages and disadvantages of each legal status. In this focus on what form of company to start electronic commerce, we will however underline the points that seem essential to us for each type of status.

A classic individual business to start an ecommerce site

A classic EI frees you from the sales ceiling imposed by the micro-enterprise; you can also hire staff. It should be noted that the classic IS has no independent legal personality.

The main disadvantage of this status is that you are jointly and severally liable for the debts of your e-commerce business unless you opt for an EIRL. In addition, the different forms of AE do not allow you to have associated.

Create a company – SARL, EURL or SAS – for your e-commerce site

In addition to being able to associate other people with your e-shop, these forms of commercial company protect your personal assets and make you more credible with your customers, suppliers, creditors, and bankers. However, the creation formalities and the accounting package to be prepared are more complex and costly.

If you have decided to launch an e-commerce site, you must of course acquire the appropriate skills, but above all, you must not miss the choice of your legal status.

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