Company Formation for E-commerce & Trading Businesses
Sell across borders without the entity getting in the way.
For a merchant, a marketplace or a trading company, the entity question is really a payments question. Which company you form decides which banks and payment processors will onboard you, which marketplaces will accept you as a seller, and where your revenue is booked for tax. Hong Kong and Singapore are built for Asian trade, a US LLC opens US payment rails, and an EU company keeps single-market sales simple. OnScale sets up the one that matches how your goods and money actually move.
The entity is chosen by your payment rails, not your address
Most cross-border sellers pick a jurisdiction for its tax rate and then discover the real constraint downstream: the payment processor, the acquiring bank, or the marketplace that will not onboard the flag they chose. High-risk categories, dropshipping models and marketplaces with a thin trading history all face that friction, and it is far harder to fix after incorporation than before. Work backwards instead - start from where your customers pay, which processors and marketplaces you need, and where the goods physically move. The entity follows from that, and so does the banking that makes it work.
Recommended structures
Hong Kong private limited company
A flexible vehicle for international trading and holding activities in Asia, with straightforward corporate administration and broad acceptance for cross-border trade.
Singapore private limited company
A tier-one regional base for operating businesses and headquarters, with ACRA filings, company secretary and registered office handled, plus optional local director support.
US LLC (Delaware or Wyoming)
A flexible US structure for founder-owned businesses selling into the States, with member-managed or manager-managed governance and an Operating Agreement. Often the shortest route to US payment rails.
EU company for single-market sales
An Estonian or Polish company where the customers, the VAT registration and the marketplace accounts are inside the EU. Digital administration for Estonia, a practical operating base for Poland.
Jurisdictions we recommend
Key terms
Frequently asked questions
Which company do I need to sell on international marketplaces?
It depends on the marketplace and the market. Most require a registered entity, a matching bank account and tax registration in the region you sell into - so the entity should be chosen against the marketplaces and payment processors you actually need, and confirmed with them before you incorporate.
Do I need a US company to sell to US customers?
Not always, but a US LLC is often the shortest route to US payment rails and to marketplaces that expect a domestic seller of record. If your customers, processors or platforms require it, form one; if they do not, an offshore or EU entity may serve the same sales without the US filing overhead.
Hong Kong or Singapore for a trading company?
Hong Kong is the lighter, cheaper vehicle for international trading and holding. Singapore costs more and asks more, and buys correspondingly more credibility with investors, banks and regional counterparties. The decision usually comes down to who you need to convince.
Will the company get me a bank account?
No company guarantees banking. Incorporation is the first step; onboarding is a separate assessment by each bank or EMI, based on your business model, counterparties and source of funds. We prepare that documentation with the formation, but the decision rests with the institution.
Not sure which setup fits?
Answer a few questions and OnScale matches you to the right entity and licensing route - one team, one point of contact.