Starting an e-commerce business: 7-point checklist

E-commerce is one of Turkey’s fastest-growing sectors. The 2024 market exceeded TRY 2T. If you’re getting in, don’t skip any of these seven items.

1. Pick the right company type

You can run e-commerce as a sole proprietorship or a limited company.

• Annual revenue expectation under TRY 1M → sole proprietorship is enough.
• Selling on marketplaces with B2B clients → limited company.
• Planning B2B exports → limited or joint-stock.

2. Register with the Ministry of Trade (ETBİS)

ETBİS registration is mandatory. You have 30 days from incorporation to register. Operating a domain without ETBİS risks fines.

3. Domain and website

Buy the .com or .com.tr for your brand. The .tr extension requires a trade registry document, available right after incorporation.

E-commerce platform options: Shopify, Ticimax, IdeaSoft, WooCommerce. For content/marketing pages: WordPress, Webflow.

4. Payment infrastructure

For card payments you either work with a bank’s virtual POS or use a payment integrator (iyzico, PayTR, PayU). Integrators are usually easier to onboard.

3D Secure is mandatory now — make sure your integrator supports it.

5. e-Invoice / e-Arşiv integration

You must issue an e-Arşiv invoice for every B2C sale, and e-Fatura for B2B sales to other e-invoice users. Manual filing at 200–500 invoices/month is unsustainable.

ŞirketOn’s pre-accounting module integrates with Trendyol, Hepsiburada, Amazon, Shopify — invoices are issued automatically per order.

6. KVKK compliance

If you collect customer data:

• Clarification notice published on your site.
• Explicit consent checkboxes on forms.
• VERBİS registration as data controller (above certain thresholds).
• Cookie and privacy policies in place.

7. Distance sales contract & returns

By law you must offer a 14-day right of withdrawal. The distance sales contract and pre-info form must be on your site.

ŞirketOn’s e-Commerce package

Includes:

• Company formation (sole proprietorship or LLC)
• ETBİS application
• e-Invoice/e-Arşiv integrator rights
• Distance-sales contract and KVKK template texts
• Marketplace store-opening support (Trendyol, Hepsiburada, Amazon)
• 3 months of pre-accounting support

Tip: Get tax and KVKK compliance right before your first orders. Fixing it later costs both money and trust.