Starting a Business? Learn About Commercial Registration and How to Prepare

Business registration is one of the important steps that entrepreneurs and business owners must pay attention to, especially in an era where commerce happens on many platforms, whether it’s e-commerce websites, Instagram, or Facebook. Having a legally valid business registration certificate helps build credibility for your business and is a crucial foundation for furthering stable and sustainable trade opportunities. But what is required for business registration? Where do you register? And why should you register? Let’s find out together in this article.

Table of Contents

• Why is business registration important?
• Who is required to register their business?
• What types of businesses need to register?
• What types of businesses do not need to register?
• Do online stores need to register?
• How to prepare for business registration
• How many days does registration take?
• What entrepreneurs should know about business registration
• What are the penalties for not registering?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Business registration: All you need to know, covered here

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Why is business registration important?

Business registration is an important step for business operators to build credibility and serve as proof of the business’s legal identity. Additionally, business registration allows the government to have useful business data for planning the country’s economic development.

Commercial evidence

Imagine you’re about to buy from an online store you’ve never heard of. Would you feel more confident if you saw they were properly registered? Business registration is like presenting the official identity of your business, building trust with customers and partners. Especially as online commerce grows rapidly, a registration certificate ensures customers your business is real and operates legally. 

Government collects data for national development

Business registration data is useful to the government for planning and developing the national economy. The government can analyze these statistics to set policies to promote and support the right businesses. For example, if online food businesses are growing, the government may provide marketing support or training. Also, registration allows the government to monitor and assess the economic situation more accurately, leading to sustainable national economic development.

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Who is required to register their business?

Before starting a business, make sure your business is legally required to register. Registration makes your business more credible. Those required to register include:

• Sole proprietors or single-owner businesses Those who operate a business in their own name, such as online stores, restaurants, or services, must register their shop.
• Ordinary partnerships Businesses with joint owners (one or more people) that are not yet legal entities must register properly.
• Registered ordinary partnerships or limited partnerships Groups that are officially established and are responsible for the capital invested together.
• Limited companies or public companies Companies registered as legal entities, whether small, medium, or large, operating in Thailand must register.
• Foreign legal entities with branches in Thailand Foreign businesses with a Thai office operating in Thailand must register according to Department of Business Development regulations.

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What types of businesses need to register?

Before starting any business or operation, check if your business requires registration. If you’re wondering whether you need to register your shop, here’s what types of businesses need to register:

1. For individuals, ordinary partnerships, and foreign legal entities with branches in Thailand

• Rice mills or sawmills using machinery
• Selling goods with sales exceeding 20 baht per day, or inventory worth 500 baht or more
• Broker or agent business with daily transactions of 20 baht or more
• Handicraft or industrial business with sales over 20 baht per day or products worth over 500 baht
• Sea, public road, railway, or tram transport
• Land trading, lending, currency exchange, banks, pawnshops, or hotels
• Selling or renting CDs, videos, DVDs, or entertainment-related digital content
• Selling gems or jewelry with gemstones
• Online buying or selling through the internet
• Internet service providers
• Server space rental
• Online product and service marketplaces
• Music listening or karaoke services
• Arcade and jukebox services
• Ivory-related business: processing, carving, retail, or wholesale ivory

2. For registered ordinary partnerships, limited partnerships, limited companies, and public companies

• Selling or renting CDs, videos, DVDs, and digital media related to entertainment
• Selling gems or jewelry with gemstones
• Online businesses or buying and selling online
• Internet service providers
• Server hosting
• Online product and service marketplaces
• Music listening and karaoke services
• Arcade and jukebox services
• Ivory processing, handicraft, retail, wholesale, and ivory products

What types of businesses do not need to register?

While business registration is important for most businesses, some are exempt, including: 

• Hawking or street vending e.g., selling at flea markets or pushcart vendors
• Religious or charitable activities e.g., temple, foundations, or charity organizations
• Ministry, bureau, department businesses Business activities operated by government agencies
• Foundations, associations, or cooperatives Business activities operated by these organizations
• Agricultural groups Legal agricultural groups under law Por Wor 141, engaged in non-registered agricultural activities
• Legal entities established by specific acts or royal decrees Business activities operated by such legal entities

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Do online stores need to register?

To ensure you operate your business legally, let’s see which types of online stores must register:

• Selling online via social media Online stores selling through social channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Line, and cannot accept payment directly on the platform, can register as individuals and file taxes as normal. 
• Selling online via website If your online store uses an online payment system, you must register electronically and apply for a DBD Registered mark to be compliant.

If you’ve ever experienced fake payment slips, customers not paying after ordering, or difficulty closing sales, we recommend using Meta Pay from KGP—a trusted online payment partner for many sellers—for smooth, secure payment experiences. Meta Pay supports all business types, whether selling on Facebook pages or accepting payments via Mobile Banking, P2P Transfer, ODD, PromptPay QR, credit, and debit cards, for the convenience and safety of your customers. 

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How to prepare for business registration

Before registering, business owners should prepare all important documents, fees, and plan the submission process for a smooth experience.

Document preparation

Documents required for business registration include:

Individuals

1. Form Thor Por. (Business registration application)

2. Copy of the owner’s national ID card  (If authorizing someone, attach a copy of their ID card too)

3. Documents showing the main office location

• If you own the house Present the house registration to the registrar
• If you do not own the house Attach these documents:
  • Business license (If required by law before starting the business)
  • Copy of lease agreement and the landlord’s property documents

4. Sketch map showing the business location and nearby landmarks

5. Power of attorney (if any)

Ordinary partnerships, groups, joint ventures

• 1. Form Thor Por. (Business registration application)
• 2. Copy of all partners’ national ID cards (If authorizing someone, attach a copy of their ID card too)
• 3. Incorporation or partnership agreement for ordinary partnerships, groups, or joint ventures
• 4. Documents showing the main office location
  • If the business operator owns the house Present the house registration to the registrar
  • If not the owner Attach these documents:
    • Letter of consent to use the premises and copy of the consent-giver’s property documents, or
    • Copy of lease agreement and the landlord’s property documents

5. Sketch map showing the business location and nearby landmarks

6. Power of attorney (if any)

If a joint venture, attach a business registration certificate of the participating entity (registered ordinary partnership, limited partnership, limited company, or public company, as the case may be)

Preparing fees

Many wonder how much new business registration costs. Actually, the fees depend on your business type, as follows:

• New business registration: 50 baht
• Change of information (e.g. shop name, address): 20 baht per time
• Business cessation: 20 baht
• Requesting a duplicate certificate: 30 baht per copy
• Certified copy or document: 30 baht per copy (for your own documents; each request counts as one copy)
• Checking another business operator’s documents: 20 baht per time

Planning your visit

If you’re wondering where to register, it’s convenient in both Bangkok and the provinces, with two cases:

For business operators in Bangkok

• District office Register at your district office where your business is located
• Bangkok Treasury Office Contact the Bangkok Treasury Office
• Bangkok Fiscal Policy Office Located at Bangkok City Hall

For business operators in the provinces

• Municipality or Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) Register at your local municipality or SAO where your business is located

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How many days does business registration take?

The business registration process varies. To help you plan, here’s how long each case takes. Business registration is divided into four cases:

1. New business registration How long do you have to register after starting? Most people wonder about this. You must register within 30 days of starting your business.

2. Change of registration information Must be registered within 30 days of the change, for these cases:

• Changing the business name
• Ceasing some business activities
• Adding new business activities
• Increasing or decreasing capital
• Moving the head office
• Owner or manager changes address
• Change of manager
• Move, cancel, or add branches, warehouses, or agents
• Amend partner details, shares, or investment amount
• Amend capital, number of shares, or share value
• Amend business-related names, e.g., website name

3. Ceasing business Must register within 30 days from cessation

4. Lost registration certificate Must apply for a replacement within 30 days of loss

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What entrepreneurs should know about business registration

After learning how to register, entrepreneurs still have duties and requirements to comply with, to prevent mistakes and legal penalties. Here’s what to know:

• Register within 30 days When starting, changing, or ceasing the business, notify the registrar within 30 days
• Clearly display the registration certificate Display the business registration certificate or a copy at the office in a visible place, or display it electronically
• Make a correct business sign
  • Create a business sign for the head office and branches within 30 days of registration
  • The sign must be in Thai, easy to read and clear. Foreign characters may be included, but the name must match the registered name
  • If a branch office, the sign must include the word "Branch"
• Notify if the certificate is lost or damaged Apply for a replacement within 30 days of loss or damage
• Provide information as required by the registrar Provide information about registered items as required
• Facilitate inspection Facilitate registrar and officials during office inspections

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What are the penalties for not registering?

Failure to register or violating requirements may lead to the following penalties:

1. Not registering

• If operating without registration, providing false information, or obstructing inspection: a fine up to 2,000 baht
• If still unregistered: additional fine up to 100 baht per day until compliance

2. Lost registration certificate

• If the certificate is lost, damaged, or not displayed: fine up to 200 baht
• If no replacement is requested: additional fine up to 20 baht per day until compliance

3. Fraud against the public

• If committing fraud or severe wrongdoing: the certificate will be revoked and the business cannot continue, unless the Minister of Commerce permits

4. Violating the order to revoke registration

• If the registration is revoked but business continues: fine up to 10,000 baht or imprisonment up to 1 year, or both

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do small shops need to register?

By law, if a shop earns 20 baht or more per day or has inventory worth 500 baht or more, it must register.

If my income does not reach the threshold, do I have to pay taxes?

If your income is not over the legal threshold, you don’t have to pay tax yet. However, keep records such as receipts or tax invoices to use when you need to file with the Revenue Department.

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Business registration: All you need to know, covered here

Business registration is a crucial step for anyone wanting to start a business legally. Registering a retail shop, small store, or large business helps build credibility and provides opportunities for steady growth. If you’re starting an online business, preparing and understanding the registration process is vital. To make your online selling easier, we recommend KGP’s Meta Pay payment service, which lets customers pay easily via credit card, debit card, or bank app. Customers can shop–chat–confirm orders in Messenger and pay instantly, helping you close sales faster and increase your business revenue smoothly.

KGP, Payment. Make It Smooth

FB : kgpthailand

LinkedIn : Kasikorn Global Payment

www.kasikornglobalpayment.com

References

1. Department of Business Development. (n.d.). Business Handbook. dbd.go.th

https://www.dbd.go.th/manual/1061

1. Department of Business Development. (2024). Ministry of Commerce Announcement: List of Businesses That Must Register and Businesses Not Subject to the Business Registration Act B.E. 2499 (1956). dbd.go.th

https://dbdregcom.dbd.go.th/mainsite/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/registrants_and_businesses_that_must_be_registered_2567.pdf

1. Department of Business Development. (n.d.). Application and Documents for Business Registration. dbd.go.th

https://dbdregcom.dbd.go.th/mainsite/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/documents_used_in_reg12.pdf