How to open a Taobao Store as a foreigner. Part 1 of 3. Set-up

[@Lifeizeazi]

Hey man, whens part 2 and 3 going to be ready.

[@lotuseater7247]

I followed the advice here. My results didn't look the same but i ploughed through anyway and have almost opened my shop. The process wasn't quite the same here and to be honest i am not sure i could give a step by step account as i was clicking around and translating. It's a shame this video doesnt continue the advice. I found that you can open a free shop, dont need to pay up. At least that's what it says so far. Also, the verification is not as simple as portrayed here, at least not in my experience. I had to wait up to two days to be approved after already being authenticated on alipay before. I think the key is patience and persistence!

[@lotuseater7247]

@@BorderlessCommerce Yes, I later found out that there is a deposit of 2000元 to upload products. I will pay if that's the only fee, since I am starting up a legit shop. (220GBP are reasonable start-up costs if it becomes successful). But the site is VERY painful to use and limited in design options. Took me all day just to try and upload my store sign and template designs. Still looks bad. The cynic in me thinks this is intentional to encourage people to buy upgrades. I will try and master the layout before paying out.

[@lotuseater7247]

@@BorderlessCommerce I did it! I opened my taobao account. Didn't cost me no more than 30rmb. Had my first order through yesterday. didn;t know what I was doing but managed it anyway

[@EnglishWithRhysLaoShi]

Hi, I’m also in the process of setting up taobao store account. Did you need a business license to finish setting up?

[@lotuseater7247]

@@EnglishWithRhysLaoShi No I sorted it all out myself thanks. It's not that hard if you're in China and you are willing to dedicate two days to it.

[@lotuseater7247]

@@EnglishWithRhysLaoShi You have to get insurance, which you pay something small like 10RMB to cover a year. Remember though; if you want to sell more than one category on your site then you'll have to stump up a big wad of money. But you can try to be smart about that. Otherwise it's basically free to set up (bar the insurnace cover). I was worried about tax issues, but then I remembered, it's China! There are no rules and regulations until you are told so. Plus, to be honest, it's not that easy to make a lot of money on there, so unless you are raking in 1000's a week then a blind eye will be turned. Usually in China if you want to set up a business you need to show your place of business to get the license, I think. But since this is online those rules don't apply.

[@omelcn]

Yo! Bro, when are you going to upload the 2nd and 3rd parts of the video?

[@omelcn]

still waiting

[@omelcn]

And have you opened your store on Taobao?

[@BorderlessCommerce]

@@omelcn I used to have one, but didnt have a product to sell. lol. I need a volunteer because taobao requires a deposit between 1000-3000 RMB to post a product

[@tusharshahani]

When is part 2 and 3 coming up?

[@ThePETRONELA01]

u need a chinese bank account, but also you need avalid chinese phone number that you send and get verifications, right?? especially with alipay and Wechat

[@StrayaGuyInChina]

Great information. Time to get selling!

[@wandererj4437]

baby formula? haha

[@okwutujennifer7308]

Please where is part 2 and 3 of this video Searched your channel and couldn’t find it

[@BorderlessCommerce]

There isn't. I am sorry. They changed the rules and now you need a business license for any item you are trying to sell.

[@Ailili-wk2dv]

Can you register and sell without having a business registered in China?

[@Bob_just_Bob]

Everything was fine and interesting on this video UNTIL about the 5:20 mark when the audio turned from spoken audio to some shit music. At first, I assumed this was some poor choice on your part but after fast forwarding to near the ending, i can see you talking to the camera but can only hear the 'music'. Any way to see an un-corrupted version of this video? It seemed to be what I was looking for until it all went to crap?

[@BorderlessCommerce]

Taobao changed their rules, this video is obselete. Apologize for your bad experience. Was a rookie at filming at this time. You need to have a Chinese company and make a deposit of at least 3000 rmb before selling anything now.

[@tusharshahani]

I have a few questions about the taobao app. Could you help me please?

[@vectorv750]

Great video very useful. By the way could you make the same kind of video for Meituan. How to open a shop on Meituan.

[@vectorv750]

@@BorderlessCommerce No, not really. I don’t have at a moment. But I am thinking about opening one in the future. Therefore I am kind of researching and meituan could be a good help for me. I looked on KZbin but couldn’t find just found your videos about Taobao.

[@simingoh3016]

May I know what bank you use and are you physically in china because I saw you filled up the store address in Guangzhou. Do I need to be physically in China to do that?

[@BorderlessCommerce]

This video is outdated, you now need a Chinese company with a physical address in China and a deposit to set up a store in Taobao as a foreigner.

[@michaelataturk249]

Does that Google translate function only work when the VPN is activated?

[@essang86]

Thanks for the video. This is very helpful. How does the tax work? Do you have to report your sales and pay income tax in China?

[@ganna5816]

@@BorderlessCommerce hi:) may I get a lawyer contact please? Coz I want to open taobao shop and get more info to be sure it worth time and money spending for that:) my WeChat ID is gannakimlach. Thanks

[@wilkergoma1]

Can’t find part 3 and 4, they still on the way?!

[@wilkergoma1]

expat survival , i will check on that, thanks alot!

[@byc_h]

pls give me link for part 2

[@BorderlessCommerce]

I'm sorry to say but they changed the rules. Now to sell on taobao, you must have a business license

[@Szchandler]

any updates for this process in 2024? I've heard you need to open a company in China to do this

[@BorderlessCommerce]

Yeah, completely different process now. Its not as easy as it used to be. You need to open a Chinese company and select your niche product and give a deposit to sell it online.

[@LeelaRose]

Do you need to have a WFOE in order to open up a Taobao store to sell goods online?

[@LeelaRose]

I'm currently and ESL teacher in China. I'm wanting to get some solid advice on how to go about opening and starting an online business here mainly with just selling homemade protein bars because all the imports here are so damn expensive 🤪 🤣 I see on Taobao people sell all sorts of things from a girlfriend for a day to cheesecake so I'm curious as a foreigner are we allowed to sell homemade products and what licenses I would need to require. I'd love to be able to chat over WeChat if that's okay?

[@LionnelAbane]

I’m waiting for the answer of this question

[@veilneila1978]

Tq for d info. But what is a Chinese bank account?

[@lemonade-drops]

a bank account from a chinese bank

[@EzekielDBarrett]

Y'all gotta be playin 🤣

[@ekwuemestella4470]

as a student in china can i be a seller on taobao?

[@rockygurumayum8059]

@@BorderlessCommerce what do you mean idle fish to sell ? Explain please

[@Kat9785XP]

Does it require you to physically stay in china in order to open the store? Thank you :)

[@BorderlessCommerce]

Most of the process now require you to open a business in China now. Rules changed 😕

[@Kat9785XP]

@@BorderlessCommerce aww man, thank you so much for updating that :)

[@samonputheavy8574]

how can I get the alipay

[@Azeddinekpoper]

cannot get to the page where the alipay link at, it shows nothing , help

[@BorderlessCommerce]

are you using google chrome?

[@c.vathana4446]

part 2 and 3 pls!

[@BorderlessCommerce]

Do you want to open store? I have a proposition for you that will help me do parts 2 and 3

[@janetabasiekong3999]

@@BorderlessCommerce How does the shipping process work, I don’t know how to go about it

[@BorderlessCommerce]

@@janetabasiekong3999 You can manually input it or select from their options. The problem now is that you need a business license to set the store up.

[@shiamahmedvlog7765]

I live and study in china. May I open a taobao account without company registration? I can use my friends Chinese id card?

[@BorderlessCommerce]

Taobao changed their rules from this video, in most cases, you need a business license, Chinese or not.

[@lemonade-drops]

thank you

[@Casandagibson]

Hey dude, I have a business license and already paid for an address but I'm not in China. Can I still open my Taobao account?

[@BorderlessCommerce]

Yes. This video is super old. Only businesses can open an account to sell. But short answer is yes you can. Taobao store is very complex now.

[@Casandagibson]

@@BorderlessCommerce I followed the steps from here and I opened the shop on Taobao without the business license, so far 😆. I don’t have my corporate account set up yet and I’ve not added the license to the store. Can I add your wechat?

[@BorderlessCommerce]

@shanghaicbit sure it's borderlesscommerce btw setting up the store and actually posting something for sale on the platform is very different. Getting through the first hurdle is good, but selecting the product type and actually having it posted on taobao with a deposit is the hardest part.

[@Casandagibson]

@@BorderlessCommerce Yeah, I figured. So I’m gonna add you

[@michaelataturk249]

Cool. Thanks. What particular products do you think Chinese people would like to buy from foreigners? (just some examples)

[@michaelataturk249]

@@BorderlessCommerce but there are chinese people with green cards and visas doing that business, dai gou , do you feel a foreigner could compete?

[@StrayaGuyInChina]

@@michaelataturk249 I have sold vitamins and beauty products that I have brought from Australia. I have had many customers say to me that they trust a native from that country to sell original and safe product. I think it goes both ways, because in Australia, I prefer to buy Chinese groceries at a Chinese grocer instead of at my local supermarket.

[@yvonnekemp5564]

I can't see part 2 and 3

[@BorderlessCommerce]

still working on it, nobody wants to try it with me, so delayed

[@9pandas]

Great video!

[@lotuseater7247]

With the greatest of respect, if you are going to make a video about ecommerce and a 'how to' then you should do the research properly and follow through with the promise of actually showing how to. I was on here a long time ago and just returned cos I got asked a question. I noticed everyone asking questions that couldn't be answered. To all those asking; essentially, if you want to open one you can, and it will not cost you lots of money at all. You must have a Chinese bank account though, (in fact, you really need to be in China) and you will really struggle if you don't know any Chinese or don't have a translator app at hand. But then, if you really want to do it then you will do it. Nothing good is easy. Took me about two days and a lot of cussing, but I got there. Think of it as a business skills training exercise!

[@BorderlessCommerce]

I understand. Thanks for the feedback. The thing stopping me from following through is the initial 3,000 RMB investment for a deposit to make the store go live and go into more detail. Nobody has been willing to do it with me (even though some said yes, but when it came to making the payment, they stopped), so I halted this project. I also have other projects where people are willing to put more real effort instead of fake effort like this opening a Taobao store was. That being said, if anyone reads this and is willing to put in the deposit, I can help them get the store running. Glad you figured it out and at least got started. I am not at the point to invest 3,000 RMB just for 1 video right now. You can always message me on social media or other means, so I can try to help you out that way. Maybe next year when I am in a better position, I may invest the deposit just for the video, but not right now.

[@90day38]

@@BorderlessCommerce hello, Im interested in putting an investement and opening up the taobao store

[@90day38]

i live in china and have a bank acount and an alipay

[@BorderlessCommerce]

@@90day38 Message my email at [e-mail] and we can go into details

[@WhatsUpWashington]

Doesn't work, need chinese national ID card to open the store