Forming an LLC for E-Commerce in 5 Steps: Step by Step Guide

e-commerce is growing rapidly, one of the basic steps to be successful in the digital world to establish a company for e-commerce . For entrepreneurs who plan to sell products or services online, having a formal company structure not only meets legal requirements but also increases the credibility of your business and creates a solid foundation for sustainable growth.

1. Why is it necessary to form an llc for e-commerce?

1. Legal Requirements and Taxation: E-commerce businesses must act in accordance with the commercial laws of the country in which they operate. Establishing a company allows you to operate within a legal framework and helps you fulfill your tax obligations regularly.

2. Reliability and Brand Image: Having a formal company structure increases the professionalism of your business in the eyes of your customers and business partners. This strengthens your brand image and makes it easier to gain customer trust.

3. Financial Advantages: By establishing a company, you can manage the finances of your business more easily, receive investments and benefit from various financial supports. Additionally, you can minimize your financial risks by separating your personal and business assets.

4. Creating a Digital Presence: Regardless of whether you make your sales through marketplaces or your own meat-commerce site, you need to establish a company under all circumstances. Because a company must exist in order to become a member of these platforms, make sales, buy virtual POS, and open a commercial bank account. In this way, your company will ensure your digital presence.

2. What Types of Companies Can Be Formed?

When forming an llc for e-commerce, the most commonly preferred company types in Turkey are:

1st Person Company:

• Advantages:
  • It is the simplest and most cost-effective option to form and operate.
  • Thanks to the flexible management structure, decision-making processes are fast.
• Disadvantages:
  • It carries unlimited liability; You will be responsible for business debts with your personal assets.
  • There are limitations on increasing capital and receiving investments.
  • The tax rates that arise when your turnover increases are very high
  • The categories you can show expenses are very limited.

2. Limited Company (Ltd. Company):

• Advantages:
  • It is based on the principle of limited liability; Partners are only responsible for the capital they contribute.
  • It presents a more professional image and has a higher potential to attract investment.
  • Tax brackets are lower than sole proprietorships
  • The categories you can show expenses are more flexible so you pay less income tax during tax season
• Disadvantages:
  • Formment and operating costs are slightly higher than a sole proprietorship.
  • Legal obligations and accounting requirements are more complex.

3. Joint Stock Company (A.Ş.):

• Advantages:
  • It provides access to opportunities such as large-scale investments and public offerings.
  • It offers limited liability and professional management structure.
• Disadvantages:
  • The formment process and costs are quite high.
  • Management and auditing processes can be complex and time consuming.

Which Company Type is Right for You?

It is important to choose your company type in line with the scale of your e-commerce business model, your capital structure and long-term goals. While a sole proprietorship may be ideal for entrepreneurs who want to make a small-scale and low-cost start-up, limited or joint-stock company structures are more advantageous for those who want to attract larger projects and investments.

Establishing a company for e-commerce is a critical step to take to gain a solid foothold in the digital market and achieve sustainable success. You can get a strong start on your e-commerce journey by choosing the type of company that best suits your business's needs and goals.

How?

Read on.

3. Forming an E-Commerce Company: Step by Step Guide

The first step to being successful in the e-commerce world is to establish an e-commerce company . This process includes many stages, from choosing the right company type to completing official transactions, obtaining the necessary licenses and permits, and arranging operational details. In this guide, we will help you, the entrepreneurs, create your road map by examining in detail the steps of the process of establishing an e-commerce company.

1. Selection of Company Type

We discussed this issue in the previous section. It is very important to choose an llc type according to the size and volume of your business. If you aim to grow in the e-commerce business, it will be more advantageous in the long run to start with a limited company instead of a sole proprietorship.

However, you should make the best decision according to your own business volume. If your monthly volumes will be low, a sole proprietorship may make sense.

The tax rates of Private Companies as of 2025 are as follows:

According to the table above, you can calculate your annual income and learn the tax rate you will pay.

While the rates in a sole proprietorship company are as follows, in a limited company the corporate tax rate is 25%, regardless of income. In addition, since the limited company is more flexible in terms of showing expenses, it may be more advantageous if expenses are deducted from a portion of the 25% income.

According to these data, a sole proprietorship is a logical option up to 110, 220 thousand TL. Incomes above these will result in paying higher taxes.

Company formment can now be done through the e-government system. In other words, the person can set up the company himself. However, since there are a series of operations afterwards, it would be wiser to leave this process to a professional. If you have the opportunity to add some more budget to the installation, you can delegate the installation process to a financial advisor.

However, in both options, the method works as follows.

2. Completion of Official Procedures

Once you have determined your company type, you must follow these steps to complete the official process:

First, you or your consultant check the availability of the company title you have determined. For this, the ITO website.

If the name and title are available, you can apply for company establishment Mersis

Company address:

During the company formment process, you will first need an address for your company. If you have an office or warehouse, you can already use that address. However, if you are going to do e-commerce at home or from an independent location that is not an office, you can show your own home as your business address.

If your home is rented, situations such as withholding tax may occur. In this case, the best option would be to rent a virtual office that you can use as a business address. In 2025, virtual office rents will be around 10,000 TL annually on average. You can get an invoice from the virtual office you rented and show it as an expense.

1.2.1. Preparation of the Company Agreement: If you are going to establish a limited or joint stock company, you must have the company agreement prepared. For a sole proprietorship, a sole proprietorship declaration must be filled out at the notary.

1.2.2. Chamber of Commerce Registration: Once your company is approved via e-government, you will be given an appointment date within a day or two for chamber of commerce registration. You need to go to the chamber of commerce to which you are affiliated to register at the given appointment time. This registration process ensures legal recognition of your business.

A few hours after registering with the chamber of commerce, your company will appear in the trade registry gazette. The company is now officially formed.

1.2.3. Tax Office Registration: In order for your company to become a taxpayer, you must register with the relevant tax office. Obtaining a tax certificate is essential for you to be able to issue legal invoices. You can download this as a pdf, which is now automatically created in e-government. Your tax office and tax number are written on your tax plate.

1.2.4. Social Security Institution (SSI) Registration: If you will have employees, you must register with the SSI and start the insurance procedures for your employees. There may be different incentives and discounts for this. It would be beneficial to consult your advisor to benefit from these incentives.

3. Obtaining Licenses and Permits

This part may not be required for every business. However, some jobs may require licenses and permits.

E-commerce businesses may need different licenses and permits depending on their field of activity. Here are some important permissions you should consider:

1.3.1. E-Commerce License: It may be necessary to obtain an e-commerce license from municipalities for e-commerce sites that will operate in certain sectors. This permit is a must, especially in sensitive sectors such as food and health.

1.3.2. Special Permits: Special permits and certificates may be required for some products operating in the field of electronic commerce (e.g. electronic devices, cosmetic products). You must ensure that your products comply with the legislation.

1.3.3. VAT and other tax permits: E-commerce sites are usually a taxpayer of value added tax (VAT). You should have all the tax permits and registrations required to act in accordance with the tax legislation.

1.3.4. E-Invoice: Get support from your consultant to make your e-invoice application. You can use e-Archive invoice to interrupt online. If your orders will be very intense, you can also use e-invoice applications that automate this process. (Eg: parachute etc.)

1.3.5. Open a commercial bank account: All your income and expenses of your company should now be carried out from commercial accounts instead of personal accounts. For this reason, you should visit the nearest bank in person and open a commercial bank account by offering your company documents.

4. Forming e-commerce infrastructure

Once you have legally formed your company, you need to create the operational infrastructure of your e-commerce business:

1. Selection of E-Commerce Platform: Choosing an e-commerce platform that suits your business model is critical for a successful online store. Determine the most suitable for your needs by comparing popular platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento. You can also use platforms such as Ikas, Ticimax.

2. Website Design and Development: Designing a website with user -friendly, mobile compatible and SEO optimized website increases customer experience and allows you to get better rankings in search engines. By working with a professional design team, you can create a website that suits your brand.

3. Safety Measures: It is important to receive SSL certificate for the security of customer information, integrate secure payment systems and make regular security updates. These steps help you gain the trust of your customers.

4. E-Commerce in Markets: You can start your trade in marketplace instead of your own website. After your company is officially established, determine the marketplace where you will sell your products. After deciding on the marketplace you want to work, you can start opening an account. Before you start trading in marketplace, you should have a very good control of the commission rates you will pay to platforms. Otherwise, your product costs increase at a surprise rate. Each marketplace platform has different commission rates. Even on a product and category basis, commission rates may vary.

5. Editing Operational Details

Once you have formed the legal and technical infrastructure of your company, you need to regulate your operational processes:

.1. Supply Chain Management: By establishing solid relationships with product suppliers, you can make stock management effectively. Working with reliable suppliers optimizes product quality and delivery times.

2. Logistics and Shipping Options: Providing fast and reliable cargo services, increases customer satisfaction. You can offer various delivery options by making agreements with different cargo companies.

3. Customer Service: Effective customer service in e-commerce enterprises is the key to winning loyal customers. Fast and effective communication through live support, e-mail and social media increases customer satisfaction. In addition, the positive comments and feedback you will receive from your customers are very important. Try to gain positive comments and feedback at every opportunity and do not forget to exhibit them on your website.

Forming marketing and sales strategies

After setting up your company and creating your operational infrastructure, it is important to improve your marketing and sales strategies:

1.6.1. Digital Marketing Plan: You can reach your target audience using digital marketing techniques such as SEO, content marketing, social media ads and e-mail marketing. An effective marketing plan increases your traffic and sales.

1.6.2. SEO Optimization: You should create SEO -compatible content, do keyword research, and perform technical SEO improvements to ensure that your website is in the top of the search engines.

1.6.3. Analysis and Reporting: You can continuously optimize your marketing strategies by following the performance of your website with tools like Google Analytics. Making data -based decisions supports the growth of your business.

LIMITED COMPANY COSTS (2025)

As of 2025, let us examine the average costs of forming a limited company in Turkey in detail. These costs include various expenditures you may encounter since the formment of the company.

1. Minimum Capital Requirement

There is a minimum capital requirement to form a limited company in Turkey. For 2025, this amount may vary depending on economic conditions and legal regulations. However, in general:

• Minimum Capital: 10,000 TL
  • Note: You must deposit the capital from your personal account within 2 years after the organization to the company's commercial bank account. There is a requirement to write the company's capital in the transfer statement and make a transfer from your own account. You can withdraw this payment one day after depositing.

2. Notary and official transactions

Some notary and official institution fees should be paid in order to officially form the company:

• Notary fees: 1,500 TL - 2,000 TL
  • The notary fees required for the preparation and approval of the company contract may vary in this range.
• Chamber of Commerce Registration Fees: These are between 7,000 TL - 9,000 TL in trade registry fees, service fees, TTSG advertisement fees, etc.
  • The company must register for the chamber of commerce to which it is affiliated. Fees may vary according to the region where the chamber of commerce is located.

3. Accounting, Advisor and Consultancy

It is a good option to give consultancy and attorney from the consultant during the installation process of the company. Because it is better to trust a professional to carry out the right processes instead of dealing with all processes.

• Consultancy Services: Between 4.000 TL - 5.000 TL
  • This is the service fee for the preparation, installation and registration of the company agreement.

4. Accounting Fees

The company's financial records must be kept and its books must be certified:

• Accounting Fees: 4,000 TL/month
  • Obtaining accounting services ensures that financial records are kept in order and in accordance with the law.

5. Other Expenses

Other expenses you may encounter during company formment are:

• Notary Fees: 2,000 TL – 3,000 TL
  • The fees required for the preparation and approval of official documents are attorney and stamp duty fees.
• Virtual Office Rent: 10,000 TL – 15,000 TL / Year
  • If you are planning to open a physical office, you should consider rent, deposit and infrastructure expenses. For e-commerce businesses, these costs can be significantly reduced if fully virtual office use is preferred.
• Website and E-Commerce Platform Setup Costs: 3,000 TL – 15,000 TL
  • These are the costs that must be paid to design a professional e-commerce site and form the necessary infrastructure. Prices may vary depending on the platform chosen and the level of customization.

6. Total Estimated Cost

The total cost of establishing a Limited Company for 2025 may vary between 20,000 TL – 50,000 TL This cost range may vary depending on the needs of the company during its establishment, the selected service providers and the size of the company.

Tips to Cut Costs

• Package Offers: Getting package services from accounting offices may be more economical than individual services. You can get both installation and first month accounting costs in the same package.
• Using Virtual Office: You can minimize rent and infrastructure expenses by using virtual office services instead of a physical office.
• Setting Up Your Own Website: If you are proficient in web design and development, you can reduce costs by setting up your own e-commerce site without professional help.

Conclusion:

Costs of forming a Limited Company vary depending on your business needs and goals. These costs, estimated to range between 20,000 TL and 50,000 TL by 2025, can be controlled with correct planning and budgeting. By carefully planning each step in the process of forming an llc for e-commerce, you can use your financial resources in the most efficient way and ensure that your business is built on solid foundations.