What is required to register and establish an e-commerce company in Kosovo?

TO START THE OPERATION AND PERFORMANCE OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE, THE COMPANY SHALL FIRST REGISTER AS A COMMERCIAL COMPANY IN THE CENTRAL E-BUSINESS REGISTER (LEGAL ENTITY).

Companies registered in the Kosovo Business Registration Agency (ARBK) and operate as “offline” businesses, but want to expand the way of selling goods and services, do not need to re-register

As with any other company’s initiation, registering an e-commerce company is not different. To set up your online business, you need to follow some steps.

For an online business to succeed, it must offer something the market needs. To identify these needs, you shall answer some of the following questions:

  • What do you want to achieve? Why are you starting a business?

  • What is happening in the industry and market? Is there a need for your products/services, and if so, who needs them?

  • Will the market accept the product and/or service?

  • What is it that will differentiate you from the rest of the businesses in the market?

The business plan shows how the company will achieve the defined goals and work towards achieving the mission. A business plan clearly describes how a business can sell its products to generate profit and attract potential investors.

Company name

Select the name of your legal entity and check if the same is available or already exists. The name of the legal entity does not have to be identical to the name of the brand you want to create, so the name of the legal entity can be completely different from the name of your e-business (e-store).

ARBK reserves the right to refuse registration of a legal entity in the register if its title is similar to an already registered or reserved title, and in all other cases provided by law.

Legal forms for opening a company

Consider all the legal forms available and decide which is best for you. The legal forms available when starting your company are Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership, Limited Partnership, and Limited Liability Company. Also, the primary income code of the activity must be selected here.

Founding contribution

The contribution can be monetary or non-monetary. You can deposit the cash immediately after the company’s establishment, in a temporary or additional bank account, but not later than one year after the establishment. Suppose you decide on a non-monetary founding contribution. In that case, an authorized appraiser shall evaluate the items you invest in the company (eg. Computer, telephone, printer etc,) and prepare an evaluation report related to the establishment of the business company.

When establishing a company in ARBK, the founder/s must declare the method of securing the founding investment, i.e. whether it will be monetary or non-monetary.

Statement/agreement for the establishment of your e-commerce

If you decide to establish and LLC, you shall prepare the “Statement of Establishment of the Company”, and in the case of the establishment of the LLC you shall prepare “Agreement of Establishment of the Company”.

Branch(-es)

You need to set up a branch office if you run your business outside the country where your company is registered. You can organize the branch (subsidiary) immediately with the company’s registration or at any time during the duration of the company.

When organizing a branch, it is necessary to complete the “Decision on the organization of the branch”, in which the following must be noted. Name, headquarters, Priority Activity, and authorized person.

Opening a transaction bank account

In the application for the establishment of a company, you shall indicate the bank where your company’s transaction account.

After receiving the establishment decision from ARBK, you shall visit the selected bank to sing the documentation for opening e transaction account.

After two to three working days, ARBK shall issue a decision to establish the business/company

For e-commerce to exist, you shall use a web-based software application through which electronic payment will be enabled.

Regardless of whether you decide to develop e completely new software solution or use some of the ready-made “open source” solutions such as WordPress or Magento, or if you join one of the local online markets (Marketplaces), in parallel with the registration of the legal entity, you can browse the options and request offers for building and developing your e-commerce, so you can save time and be able to open your business as soon as possible.

When you open a bank account or after developing your software solution, you must submit a request to your bank for the implementation of a virtual POS terminal in your e-business.

The bank checks and evaluates the potential e-trader to immediately prevent fake and not serious customers from opening an online business. If everything is in order, the bank and the e-commerce conclude an agreement in which the rights and obligations are mutual, more precisely arranged. International card organizations control the entire procedure of checking and concluding contracts to guarantee a high level of security when performing electronic transactions.

Submit the received documentation for the integration of the payment processor to the IT person creating your e-business for successful implementation.

You will be able to see more information about the offer and the possibilities for the integration of the payment processor in MODULE 2 – Ecommerce4all.mk

Did you know?

77% of online shoppers in Kosovo are buying clothes. (Eurostat)

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Legal disclaimer: This geographical map is for informational purposes only and does not constitute recognition of international boundaries or regions; GIZ makes no claims concerning the validity, accuracy or completeness of the maps nor assumes any liability resulting from the use of the information therein.

North Macedonia

Population 2057680
Population ages 16-64 13992.22
Internet use 85.3%
Internet shoppers 53.5%
Currency Macedonian denar
GDP per capita, PPP 21304.5

Albania

Population 2777690
Population ages 16-64 1861052
Internet use 83.1%
Internet shoppers 38.5%
Currency Albanian lek
GDP per capita, PPP 19496.20

Serbia

Population 6664450
Population ages 16-64 43318.93
Internet use 85.36%
Internet shoppers 64.18%
Currency Serbian dinar
GDP per capita, PPP 25061.9

Kosovo

Population 1761980
Population ages 16-64 11981.46
Internet use 90%
Internet shoppers 51%
Currency European euro
GDP per capita, PPP 14971.20

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Population 3233530
Population ages 16-64 21664.65
Internet use 83.38%
Internet shoppers 41.31%
Currency Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark
GDP per capita, PPP 20950.20

Moldova

Population 2538890
Population ages 16-64 17264.45
Internet use 76%
Internet shoppers 34%
Currency Moldovan leu
GDP per capita, PPP 15719

Montenegro

Population 617210
Population ages 16-64 4011.87
Internet use 88.36%
Internet shoppers 32.13%
Currency European euro
GDP per capita, PPP 28324.6

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* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

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