How to register an online Business in Nepal

Firstly, e-commerce means carrying out all the business activities like purchasing and selling products through online transactions. In Nepal, online transactions began in 2000 after Thamel.com and Muncha were launched. Now, there are several e-Commerce businesses in Nepal in many fields. Some of the booming online businesses in Nepal are Daraz, E-Sewa, SastoDeal, HamroBazar, FoodMandu, and many more.

Online business is indeed risky and challenging as it is a new concept in a country like Nepal. But, by following these guides, anyone can raise their e-Commerce business to the next level. 

The government has initiated the law-making process to regulate online business (business conducted through electronic means).

Minister Rijal has mentioned that the bill has been introduced with the aim of giving legal recognition to online business and bringing it under the scope of taxation. In the proposed bill, the commercial transaction of goods or services through information technology is called electronic commerce.

According to officials of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply, these include advertising, movies, television, music, over the top (OTT), data collection, cloud services, gaming, mobile apps, online markets, software supply, data, image download services, education, consulting. , skill development and training services, e-books, e-libraries, e-magazines etc. come under e-commerce.

A provision has been proposed in the bill that any person, firm, company or organization should obtain permission from the government agency to do online business. And every such businessman should have an electronic platform (website, apps, Facebook page, YouTube channel, etc.). The electronic platform should contain details such as business name, address, registered entity, registration certificate number, registered office, head office, branch and outlet where business is conducted.

It is mentioned in the bill that after establishing the electronic platform, an application should be submitted to the Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection for listing to do online business and after listing and getting the listing number, they will be allowed to do business.

In the bill, businessmen who do business online will have to inform about what kind of goods and services they will provide through the electronic platform. Details such as the name, nature, design, trademark, shape or picture, composition, weight or underlying elements of goods and services must be kept in the electronic platform.

Along with this, the final selling price of the goods or services including tax, shipping or transfer fees, time taken to transfer the goods and services, warranty, guarantee of the goods and services, name of the manufacturing company and the person, firm, company or organization providing the service should also be kept.