Your Questions About Doing Business Online China
George asks…
Business UK! Selling products online…?
I want to start up a business that imports products from china and sells them online. I have already found a supplier and I am going to sell around 6 items on the site (max of 10). Instead of having a lot of products im decided to stick to a small amount of affordable everyday items to be sold to a mass market. I will have an online shop and open an ebay shop too.
Could I do this business as a sole trader?
What laws effect this business?
Are there any laws or anything i should know about from importing goods from china to sell?
Jere answers:
Hello Cliff
You can run your business as a sole trader, which makes you personally liable for everything that happens in your company. It may be worth thinking about setting up a limited company. It doesn’t cost a lot – under £100 – and gives you more protection.
As Grandad Jim says, you need to notify HMRC within 3 months of setting up.
Think carefully about the terms and conditions of your supplier in China. What’s the minimum quantity they supply – usually it’s a container load? How and when do you have to pay them – this affects your cashflow? What happens if there’s any faulty merchandise? What’s the order lead time? If you’re running low on stocks, how quickly can you restock?
Business Link is definitely worth talking to. They have a lot of free information on imports and exports and usually have an advisor who specialises in it. The UK Trade and Investment people are helpful, too.
Good luck!
Rosemary
Betty asks…
Greeting Cards from China?
I am buying a range of handmade cards and greeting cards from UK and USA companies. I am thinking of buying also from China using alibaba.com What do you think the unit prices from China for handmade cards will be and do you think I can make a successful business online in the industry?
Jere answers:
It can be ranged from US$0.5 – $0.50 dending to the quality and quanity. Wholesale bulk are much cheaper. Do some research first by checking out some companies locally or from China. Ebay or Amazon are good places for research as well.
Hope this helps.
John asks…
In a home business what (licenses) do I need to receive products from a china prtnr. ship them from my home?
I am starting a doll selling business that will be handled online. I have my first round of product ready to be shipped to me from my Chinese and Korean partners but I need a tax ID and some other things. What do I need and how do I go about this?
THANK YOU!
Jere answers:
You also need import/export licence ,marketing licence and foreign beneficiary application form.
Your national Internal Affairs or Consumer Advice Office should be able to help.
Try also www.customerled.com
Mary asks…
Do you know any country that doesn’t charge importation taxes?
I want to open a warehouse for an online business and import products from China, but the importation taxes in my country are too expensive.
Any idea where can I set up a new branch?
Jere answers:
Any goods that remain in your country will be subject to any duties and taxes. Goods that are just transshipped should not be dutiable IF you have a bonded Customs warehouse. Check with your Customs office to see how to set that up. That would generally be cheaper than setting one up in a different country.
Mandy asks…
What To Sell Online and School?
i need money. im 16 years old and i need lots of cash. i already applied for a couple of places that accept people under 16. the one that i have the most hope for is best buy but i dont think that anyone is going to call me.
so i need to find another way
i got to start my own small business online and maybe at school
what can i sell on ebay or craigslist (preferably ebay) that i can sell in large quantities and make money on it. how would i get this product??
i was thinking maybe import some crap from china and sell it on ebay along with the millions of people that do that already. IDK any ideas on what to sell? also could i sell this at school??
please dont say homemade bracelets or sell gum at school. i need a real business, import, export, profit = LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH
something that can make me like $100 a week which is what a weekend job at best buy would do for me
Jere answers:
The easiest way to do this is to simply buy and sell goods that people are selling on ebay, kijiji, craigslist, etc and try to sell them yourself. You just need to do some research and become good at valuing items, so you know when you’ve found a bargain. You can even specialise in a particular type of product – especially products where you already have a hobby or interest.
The other thing you can do is buy whole lots of goods at local (in-real-life) Surplus Auctions – a lot of companies and most municipal governments sell off whole batches of things; e.g. 10 LCD Monitors. You then sell them off individually at a profit.
Good luck
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