Do I Need a Registered Business to Start Selling on Amazon South Africa or Takealot?

With Amazon South Africa launching and Takealot still dominating the local e-commerce space, more South Africans than ever are looking to start selling online.

One of the first questions new sellers ask is:

“Do I need a registered business (Pty Ltd) to sell on Amazon or Takealot?”

The short answer:

• Yes, for Takealot, you do.

• For Amazon South Africa, it is strongly recommended — and will likely become a requirement for serious sellers.

Do You Need a Registered Business for Takealot? 

Yes — Takealot requires a registered company.

To sell on the Takealot Seller Portal, you must have:

• A CIPC-registered company (Pty Ltd)

• A valid Company Registration Certificate (CoR14.3)

• A SARS Income Tax Number

• A Bank Account in the Company’s Name

• A B-BBEE Affidavit (free from CIPC/BizPortal)

Takealot does not allow:

• Sole proprietors

• Individuals using a personal ID

• Personal bank accounts

Takealot treats all sellers as formal businesses, which means compliance is mandatory from day one.

Do You Need a Registered Business for Amazon South Africa? 

Not strictly required — but highly recommended (and beneficial).

Amazon South Africa currently allows two types of seller setups:

Individual sellers

Register using your:

• South African ID

• Personal bank account

• Personal tax number

  
  

Business sellers (Pty Ltd)

Register using your:

• CIPC company documents

• Business bank account

• SARS business tax number

• B-BBEE certificate

• Company address

• 
  

Even though you can start as an individual, most sellers eventually upgrade to a business because:

Why You Should Register a Company Before Selling on Amazon SA 

1. Tax savings & compliance 

As your revenue grows, being an individual becomes expensive.Companies benefit from:

• Lower tax rates

• More deductible expenses

• Better structure for salary + dividends

2. You look more legitimate to suppliers 

Most wholesalers and distributors only supply stock to registered companies.

3. Easier to scale and automate 

A Pty Ltd allows you to:

• Hire staff

• Outsource fulfilment

• Work with agencies

• Open business lending accounts

4. Protect your personal assets 

A company separates your personal finances from your business risks.

5. ROI tracking and bookkeeping is cleaner 

Amazon and Takealot payouts flow into a business bank account, not your personal one.

6. Amazon may require company registration later 

Amazon’s global standard is business registration for all serious sellers.South Africa is likely to follow this long-term.

So What’s the Best Option for New SA Sellers? 

Here’s the simple recommendation:

Platform	Do You Need a Registered Business?	Smartbook Recommendation
Takealot	✅ Yes (mandatory)	Register a Pty Ltd immediately
Amazon SA	❌ No (for now), but recommended	Register a Pty Ltd before scaling

If you want to build a long-term, scalable e-commerce business — a Pty Ltd company is the smartest move.

Documents You’ll Need to Sell as a Business Seller 

To sell on Amazon SA or Takealot as a company, you’ll need:

• Company registration certificate (CoR14.3)

• Company income tax number

• Company bank account

• B-BBEE affidavit (free)

• Company address + proof

• Director ID verification

• Letter of authority / registered representative

• VAT number (optional unless required by turnover)

Smartbook prepares ALL of these for you in one go.

Can You Convert Personal Selling Into a Business Later? 

Amazon SA:

Yes — you can upgrade from individual to business anytime. Amazon may request additional verification documents.

Takealot:

You cannot convert an individual to a business profile.You must register a company first.

Why Smartbook Is the Best Option for Amazon SA & Takealot Sellers

Smartbook can get your business fully ready for online selling in 48 hours, including:

• CIPC company registration (R950)

• SARS tax number

• B-BBEE affidavit

• CSD-ready documentation

• Beneficial ownership filing

• Company bank account assistance

• Compliance pack for Takealot/Amazon

• Ongoing annual return management

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I sell on Amazon SA without a registered company?

Yes, but only as an individual seller. For serious selling, a company is recommended.

2. Can I sell on Takealot without a company?

No. Takealot requires a registered Pty Ltd with a business bank account.

3. Is it better to register a business before selling?

Yes. You’ll save on tax, access suppliers, and scale more easily.

4. How long does it take to register a company?

Smartbook can register your company and get all documents ready in 48 hours.

5. Can Smartbook set me up for Amazon SA and Takealot?

Yes — Smartbook handles registration, compliance, tax setup, and all required documents.